By By Marty Stamper/The Meridian Star
April 12, 2001
NEWTON For Crandel Porter, Louisville has always been home. He grew up there, graduated from Louisville High School, and returned to Winston County this current school year to coach the Wildcats' boys' basketball team and girls' fast-pitch softball squad.
Newton, however, has been a second home of sorts to Porter.
He spent the previous year coaching basketball there.
Obviously, Porter the son of Lanier head coach Thomas Billups liked what he saw.
Porter will return to Newton for the 2001-2002 school year to coach both the Tigers and Lady Tigers basketball teams at Newton High School.
On the girls' side at Newton, Porter will find a team that went 21-17 and returns virtually intact as only two seniors will be gone.
The Newton girls were only a few plays away from having a really outstanding year as five of their losses were to 27-5 Newton County, three were to Class 2A state tournament participant Bay Springs, two were to Class 4A state tournament semifinalist Neshoba Central, one was to Class 1A state champion Lake, one was to Class 3A state semifinalist Choctaw Central, one was to Class 3A state semifinalist Hazlehurst, one was to Class 2A state runner-up East Marion, and one was to Class 2A state semifinalist West Lowndes.
The Newton girls had two quality wins apiece over Forest and South Leake and another over West Lauderdale under coach Arthur Carter.
He'll find a boys' team that went 27-11 and reached the Class 2A state tournament in March under coach Ed McGowan, but is losing eight seniors from its 15-man roster.
Obviously, a lot will be expected from the Lady Tigers next fall.
Marty Stamper is a sports writer for The Meridian Star. E-mail him at mstamper@themeridianstar.com.