By By Jeff Byrd / staff writer
June 27, 2003
West Lauderdale head coach Duran Clark entered the summer needing to fill a 50-point hole in his scoring offense with the graduation loss of forwards Boo Ramsey and Calvin Moore.
Chris Sephus was one of the guys Clark was counting on to help with the scoring for next season.
With the Knights down two with 12.6 seconds left, Sephus hit a three-pointer to put his team up 55-54 against rival Northeast Lauderdale Thursday night at Meridian Community College's Ivy Sports Center.
The Knights then stole the inbound preventing Northeast a shot at recapturing the lead. The Knights settled for the 56-54 win and will head into Friday's play as a favorite to advance to medal play.
Northeast head coach Lewis Lightsey was proud with the way his young team battled down the stretch.
One of those was Maurice Lassiter who scored 12 of his 16 points in the second half to key the Trojans. Harold Grace, the top sub off last year's State 4A Tournament team, chipped in 12 points and Bryan Washington added eight.
The Knights used their strength inside to grab a 38-31 lead. But the Trojans roared back to tie at 44-44.
The two teams were still tied at 52-all when Antonio Clayton stole a West pass and then converted two free throws for a 54-52 lead with 28 seconds left.
The Knights held for a shot setting up Sephus from the left elbow. He drained the three-pointer to put the Knights ahead 55-54.
Lee Nelson led West with 13 points. Kolin Boyd added 12 points and Scott Grady had 11.
W. Lauderdale girls 42
Wayne Aca. 28
Two-time 3A runner-up West Lauderdale opened the State Games of Mississippi with a 42-28 win over Wayne Academy.
The defending gold medal champs received nine points from 6-foot-2 senior center Shannon Lloyd and eight apiece from Cierra Jennings and Vankeila Wilson. Keiah Fitch chipped in six.
The Lady Knights led 26-11 at the half.
Wayne Academy was led by Erin Wood's 14 points.
Warren Central girls 61
Noxubee County 55
Dorothy Jenkins poured in 23 points to lead 5A power Warren Central past Noxubee County in an opening pool game of the State Games of Mississippi on Thursday.
Jessica Lacy and Saleda Montgomery each added seven points for Warren Central. Noxubee County got 16 from Williams.
Quitman boys 49
Noxubee County 39
Quitman's Prince Trotter scored 12 points to lead the Panthers past Noxubee County 49-39 in an opening round boys game. Cordero Laphand chipped in nine for Quitman.
Noxubee was led by Laquanta Horne's 12 points.
Columbia boys 60
Meridian B-team boys 37
Jeffrey Allen tossed in 19 points to lead Columbia past Meridian's B-team 60-37 at the State Games of Mississippi on Thursday.
The Meridian B-teamers were playing as a substitute for Heidelberg Academy who pulled out of the tournament.
Nick Expose added 12 points for Columbia. Bruce Pope led Meridian with eight points.