By By Cassie Chance/Special to The Star
Jan. 24, 2001
The action inside the newly renovated gym at Northeast Lauderdale on Tuesday night was well worth anyone's money. In fact, it was a moment to remember for freshman Crystal Hopson. Freshmen may sit at the bottom of the totem pole in high school, but Hopson wasn't about to let anything stop her from making a difference in the outcome of the Lady Trojans' game against cross-county rival West Lauderdale.
What a difference she made. Hopson scored the game-winning goal with just one second remaining to give the Lady Trojans a narrow 51-50 victory over the Lady Knights. The win also improved the Lady Trojans' overall record to 17-8.
West Lauderdale's Julie McCrory and Kristina Gardner contributed from behind the three-point arch to give the Lady Knights an easy 23-6 lead at the end of the first quarter. The Lady Trojans answered back in the second quarter by outscoring West 19-11. The Lady Knights' lead that was once 17 had been cut to nine in eight minutes of play, as they took a 34-25 favor into the locker room at the half.
After the break, Northeast came out and stepped up on offense to outscore the Lady Knights by only four in the third quarter.
However, those four points made a tremendous impact on the outcome of the game.
West Lauderdale's McCrory and J.J. Huggins led the Lady Knights' calvary attack in the fourth. With just four seconds left in the game, Jawanda Huggins put the Lady Knights up by one. The Lady Trojans then used a long pass to give Hopson the open shot with just one second left in the game.
McCrory led the Lady Knights with 19 points, while Kristina Gardner added 16.
Northeast was led by Dorecious Powe's 16 points. Hopson finished with 15.
Northeast Lauderdale boys 83, West Lauderdale 68: Jimmy Kelly's 23 points led the Northeast Lauderdale Trojans to an 83-68 victory over cross-county rival West Lauderdale on Tuesday night.
Northeast jumped out to an early 19-10 lead at the end of the first and then extended that lead to 20 at the half, as they took a 41-21 advantage into the locker room.
West got help from Calvin Moore and Karlos Lewis in the third quarter to rally. That rally carried on into the fourth quarter, but the Knights were unable to come away with the victory.
Northeast head coach Lewis Lightsey commended his players for a job well done.
Moore's game-high 25 points led West Lauderdale, now 13-14. Van Wilson added 17 points for the Knights, who got 10 points from Lewis.
Kelly's 23 was aided by Hales' 14 and Jamaal Martin's 10.
Winston and Dyess added 12 each for the Trojans, who are now 14-9.