By By Marty Stamper / EMG sports assistant
Jan. 5, 2003
FOREST Newton got 24 points from Twila Clayton and 23 from Kotreece Bender to knock off previously-unbeaten Choctaw Central in the finals of the Central Mississippi Classic Saturday night.
Choctaw Central jumped out to a 20-16 first quarter lead only to have Newton grab a 32-29 advantage by halftime.
The Lady Tigers stretched out to a 40-30 lead with 5:42 remaining in the third quarter following back-to-back baskets by Clayton, but Choctaw Central battled back to within 47-46 heading into the fourth quarter.
Newton eased out to a 58-51 lead with 3:32 left on a free throw by Clayton. Bender scored with 3:13 remaining and her steal led to a layup by Clayton with 2:40 to go to put the Lady Tigers up 62-53.
Newton also got 10 points from Creoshia Williams.
Third-ranked Choctaw Central, 16-1, got 20 points from Trish Phillips, 15 from Ashley Flint, and nine from Natisha Isaac.
The Lady Warriors got into early foul trouble and had two players foul out and two more finish with four fouls.
Forest, 10-5, faced Choctaw Central, 12-3, for the boys' championship in the late game.
Morton boys 68
Newton 66
Morton upped its record to 11-4 with the third-place win. The Panthers got 24 points from Andrew Lewis and 12 from Chris Lloyd.
Newton, 7-9, got 20 points from Coshune Bingham, 14 from David Edwards, 12 from Cornelius Caraway, nine from Kolby Tillman, and eight from Laderrian Blaylock.
Morton girls 47
Forest 35
Morton, 7-6, got 13 points from Makeba Evans, nine from Dominique Brooks, and eight from Tyneshia McDonald in winning the third-place contest.
Forest, 5-12, got 14 points from Mary Qualls and six from Brittany McClendon.
Pearl girls 50
Carthage 46
Pearl improved to 2-14 with the four-point consolation win. Scoring leaders for the Lady Pirates were unavailable.
Carthage, 1-14, got 10 points from Amanda Schmidt and eight from Alisa Matlock.
Pearl boys 75
Carthage 63
The Pirates, 5-12, placed four players in double figures in winning the consolation game. Jeremy Harvey scored 17, Chris Anclujo had 15, Caurice Burk 13, and Raymond Newell 11.
Carthage, 2-13, got 24 points from Brian Nichols, 12 from Timmy Thompson, and 10 from Eddie Perkins.
Choctaw Central boys 64
Morton 60
In Friday's late game, Choctaw Central improved to 12-3 by outscoring the Panthers 16-10 in the fourth quarter.
Shaun Dougherty led the Warriors with 25 points. Deon Lewis scored 14 and Sean Ahshapanek added 10.
Morton, 10-4, got 25 points from Andrew Lewis and 21 from Chris Lloyd.