By By Ryan Satcher / staff writer
Dec. 22, 2002
LIVINGSTON, Ala. The Lady Cougars of Livingston High slowed the pace of the game down, but in the end Meridian stayed under control and took a 46-36 win.
Livingston won the boys' game over Meridian 85-51 in a very physical battle.
In the girls' game, Livingston tried the slow the up-tempo Lady Wildcats by holding the ball out. The Lady Cougars were able to keep the game close until Valencia Hairston and the Lady Wildcats went off for 15 points in the final quarter.
The two teams battled to a 12-12 tie after the first quarter and the Lady Wildcats led 24-20 at halftime.
The Lady Cougars held the ball for about four minutes during one stretch in the third quarter, but tied the game 26-26 with a basket by Teneshia Ruffin with 1:38 left before half.
Hairston answered with a three-pointer and then scored after a turnover by Livingston to make the score 31-26 with one quarter left to play.
Hairston scored the first eight points of the quarter for Meridian as the Lady Wildcats went on an 15-6 run to stretch the lead out to 14 points with 1:05 left to play.
Meridian held on for the 46-36 win and improved to 10-1 on the season. Hairston finished the game with 23 points to lead the Lady Wildcats. Jamie Walker scored 13 points and Ruffin added 11 to lead Livingston.
Livingston boys 85
Meridian 51
Livingston used a big second quarter to jump out to a lead and held on in a very physical battle over Meridian High.
The Cougars got a basket from David McIntosh with 27 seconds left in the first quarter and Derek Crampton hit a three-pointer with just four seconds remaining to give Livingston a 17-11 advantage.
The Cougars then outscored the Wildcats 21-10 in the second quarter behind the scoring of McIntosh and Crampton.
The lead stayed around 20 points in a foul-filled second half. The Cougars stretched the lead in the fourth quarter from the free-throw line. Livingston went on a 10-0 run with all of the points coming from the free throw line.
The Cougars went on to roll over the Wildcats in the final minutes to take the 85-51 win.
McIntosh finished with a game-high 25 points and Crampton added 20. Mack Bealin scored 12 points for Livingston.
Jason Windom scored 12 points for Meridian and E.J. Hampton added 11 in the loss.