By By Richard Dark and Marty stamper/The Meridian Star
Nov. 28, 2000
DECATUR The annual East Central Community College Central Mississippi Classic tipped off Monday night.
The tournament which is being played in two gyms on the East Central campus, is comprised of 12 high schools including 10 from The Meridian Star coverage area.
The Philadelphia Tornadoes and the Noxapater Tigers capped off the first night of action in the Decatur Gym with Philly easily putting away the Tigers, 51-32 in a contest that saw both teams struggle shooting the basketball.
Things certainly looked OK in the early going, as the Tornadoes (3-3) jumped out to a 13-2 lead, aided by the poor shooting of NHS who was just getting back many of its players from the football playoffs.
Philly ballooned the lead to 40-20 with seven minutes left in the game and cruised to the win.
Rashaun Hill led the Tornadoes with 13 points and Keith Houston added seven. Tony Riley and Derek Moore chipped in with five each for PHS who led 26-10 at the break. NHS was paced by eight point efforts from Ryan Smith and Nijel Young. Philly will face South Leake (7-1) in the winner's bracket Wed. at 5:30 p.m.
West Lauderdale 72, Edinburg 57: The Knights improved to 3-7 and advanced to the second round by pounding the Eagles after a close first quarter. Calvin Moore torched the Eagle defense with 31 points, while Carlos Lewis and Boo Ramsey added 13 and 11 for West, (3-6) who took a 10-point lead into the locker room at the break. The Knights will face off against Newton County (5-1) in second round action Wed. at 8:30 p.m.
Shane Estes and Roman Ingram kept EHS (1-6) competitive with 24 and 22-point efforts.
Newton boys 74, Lake 39: The Tigers struck for a 10-0 lead in the game's first 92 seconds and were up 27-7 by the end of the first quarter. Newton led 47-21 at halftime.
Bob Lindsey led Newton, 4-1, with 24 points, 18 of which came in the first half. The Tigers also got 18 points from Mario Qualls and 12 from Terrell Edwards.
Lake, (0-3), was led by Neal Tadlock's 24 points.
Carthage boys 93, Scott Central 45: Carthage scored the game first seven points and led by as much as 52 in taking the blowout victory.
The Tigers led 25-8 after one quarter and held a commanding 48-21 halftime advantage.
Carthage, (4-4), got 17 points from Dyrell Carson, 15 from Robert Kelly, 13 from Wallace Alexander, 10 each from Raymond Youngblood and Anthony Ashwood, and eight from Dwight Townsend.
Scott, (0-2), got 15 points from Roderick Loper, 12 from Courtney McClendon, nine from Nathaniel McKee and seven from Cedric Gray.