By By Marty Stamper/The Meridian Star
July 15, 2001
PHILADELPHIA Michael Redhouse scored twice from close range to lead Beaver Dam to a 5-4 semifinal win over Conehatta late Friday night in the 2001 World Series of Stickball.
Beaver Dam, a seven-time World Series champion, advanced to Saturday night's championship with the Warriors, who routed Nanih Waiya 12-0 in Thursday's other semifinal.
Conehatta, a 19-time champion, jumped out to a 2-0 lead over Beaver Dam in the first 11 minutes of the first quarter of their contest at the 52nd-annual Choctaw Indian Fair.
Conehatta's first score came from Craig Anderson with 9:47 to go in the first period. Roddy Nickey made it 2-0 when he scored from close range with 4:47 left in the opening quarter.
It took just 37 seconds for Beaver Dam to get one tally back as Redhouse got his first point of the night.
Beaver Dam tied the game at 2-2 in the first 30 seconds of the second quarter as Eric Charley hit the pole.
Redhouse put Beaver Dam up 3-2 with 5:23 remaining in the first half.
The teams closed the first half with a flourish as Dakota Clemmons scored with 1:24 left in the second quarter to give Beaver Dam a 4-2 lead. Jeremy Stephens pulled Conehatta within 4-3 with a connecting shot just 57 seconds before halftime.
Conehatta pulled even at 4-4 on a shot of at least 35 yards from Bobby Williams with 9:30 to go in the third quarter.
James Denson, who helped Choctaw Central High School to Class 2A state championships in boys' basketball in 1998 and 1999 and currently plays at East Central Community College, scored the eventual game-winning point from close range with 4:27 left in the third period.
Marty Stamper is a sports writer for The Meridian Star. E-mail him at mstamper@themeridianstar.com.