By By Richard Dark/The Meridian Star
March 6, 2001
JACKSON The Meridian High Lady Wildcats didn't look at all like a team that was in search of a trip to the Class 5A State Championship.
Monday night inside the Mississippi Coliseum, they looked like a team with an axe to grind.
And they did just that from the opening horn to the final buzzer, embarrassing the Jackson Provine Lady Rams, 72-39.
In the first matchup, MHS won by a single point on the road. "Tonight we really came out and blew them out to show them exactly what we were all about. Hopefully we can play this good Friday night."
Head coach Donald Shirley agreed.
Friday's state title appearance will be the first for Shirley since 1995, when MHS was nipped 53-52 by the Harrison Central Red Rebelettes.
The 6:15 contest, that will be televised, will be Friday's second involving area teams. Joe Miller's Southeast Lauderdale Lady Tigers will face off with South Pontotoc at 1 p.m.
Meridian's opponent, however, won't be decided until this afternoon at 1 p.m. when the Tupelo Lady Waves take on the Moss Point Lady Tigers.
The Lady Cats bested Moss Point 52-33 in the finals of the South State Tournament 10 days ago. Tupelo turned back MHS earlier this season in the Columbus High Tournament, and they eliminated the Lady Cats last year in the Big House.
Outgoing MHS Athletics Director Mac Barnes, who has been around for plenty of the Lady Cats' trips to the Coliseum, said he was truly impressed with the current edition.
Cantea Brown, whose first name was butchered by the public address man all night, said the Lady Cats would have to play as one unit, with more of the crisp passing they displayed Monday night.
If she plays the way she did on Monday, it's a good guess someone will clue the announcer in.
Richard Dark is a sports writer for The Meridian Star. E-mail him at rdark@themeridianstar.com.