By Staff
LEANING IN West Lauderdale's Calvin Moore puts up a jumper in a crowd of Holly Springs' defenders on Thursday. Photo by Paula Merritt/The Meridian Star
By Marty Stamper/EMG sports assistant
March 1, 2002
JACKSON Holly Springs used a 15-3 run over the final 5:29 of the third period in Thursday afternoon's Class 3A State Tournament opening-round game with West Lauderdale to end the Knights' season.
The Hawks went on to take a 68-56 win as West finished its year 25-13. The trip to state was West's ninth in school history.
Holly Springs, 20-12, will return Wednesday for a 2:30 p.m. semifinal date with Corinth.
West was holding a 40-35 advantage when 6-foot-5 sophomore Jeffrey Jones canned a pair of 3-pointers to put the Hawks up 41-40 with 4:55 left in the third quarter.
The Knights got their last lead of the afternoon when Boo Ramsey hit a 3-pointer at the 4:01 mark of the third period.
Jones added another trey and Joemal Campbell scored a pair of two-pointers to give Holly Springs a 50-43 lead going into the fourth quarter.
Terrell Wilson scored the first basket of the final period for a 52-43 Hawks' lead.
The Knights battled back to within 55-52 with 2:18 remaining on baskets by Andre Adams and Chuck Brewer.
Campbell made one free throw for a 56-52 lead with 2:12 to go. Ramsey's 3-point try from well beyond the NBA line sailed out of bounds and the Hawks made six of eight free throws over the final 1:43 to keep their season alive. Holly Springs also picked up three baskets, one of which came when Wilson rebounded a missed free throw by Jason Campbell and put it back for a 61-54 lead with 1:11 to go.
The Knights led 16-12 at the end of the first quarter, but Holly Springs rallied for a 35-35 tie going into halftime.
Calvin Moore had 18 of West's 35 points at halftime.
Moore finished with 24 points. Ramsey and Adams both had 11, and Brewer had eight. Ramsey hit each of the Knights' three 3-point baskets.
Jones hit five of Holly Springs' eight treys and led the Hawks with 15 points. Joemal Campbell and Jeremy Bowens both had 13 with Kenny Dawkins adding 10. Jason Campbell, the Hawks' only senior, had seven points.
For Holly Springs coach Naylond Hayes, the game was a unique turnaround as he had refereed in the event on several occasions over an eight-year span. He previously coached at Rust College, but this is his first year to coach at Holly Springs although it is his fifth year to teach at the high school.
Holly Springs shot 19 free throws, making 14, while the Knights made one of their three attempts.