Holmes ends Jones' season

By By Jeff Byrd / staff writer
March 6, 2002
CLINTON Two free throws by Jason Roberson with 2.2 seconds left lifted current Mississippi Junior College champion Holmes Community College past Jones Junior College 61-59 here Tuesday night in the Region 23 Tournament at A.E. Wood Coliseum.
Holmes, now 16-10, moves on to face Itawamba today at 2 p.m. here at Wood Coliseum. Jones Junior College finishes its season with a 13-11 record.
Bobcat head coach Robert McInnis said his team had its chances to pull the upset.
Jones led 34-26 at the half after the Bulldogs made just nine of 36 shots from the field. The lead went to 11 before Holmes began chipping away.
Down 40-34, Holmes' Jarrell Jones knocked down consecutive three-pointers to tie the game at 40-40. Jones answered taking its final lead of the game on a three-pointer by McKinley Bethea to make it 43-40 with 12:50 to play.
Holmes retook the lead on a three-pointer from Roberson to go up 45-43. Another three, this one by Greg Tucker, handed the Bulldogs a 50-45 lead with 8:23 to play.
At the 6:48 mark, Holmes took its largest lead at six points, 53-47, following its fifth trey of the half.
Jones, though, wouldn't fold. A 14-foot shot by Lee J. Kirkpatrick and a three-pointer from Timothy Evans made it a one-point game at 53-52 with 5:04 to go.
It was still a two-point game heading to the final minute. Jones had possession with under 50 seconds left, but a costly turnover on a pass into the back-court gave the ball back to Holmes.
The Bulldogs drew a foul and B.J. Townsend made one of two shots to put Holmes up three. Jones came back with Nick Paige hitting an off-balanced three-pointer to tie it at 59-all with 27 seconds left.
Holmes played for a final shot. They were able to swing a back-door cut to Roberson who was fouled with 2.2 seconds left. He then made both free throws to put Holmes ahead at 61-59.
Roberson and Jerrick Oliver each had 11 points to lead Holmes. Issac Greenwood chipped in 10 and Jones had eight. The Bobcats shot 52 percent in the second half including 5-of-8 on three-point attempts.
Jones was paced by Phil Carter, M.J. Johnson and Rashaune Walters all with 11 points.