By By Marty Stamper/The Meridian Star
Nov. 13, 2001
DECATUR Leake Academy took a pair of basketball games at Newton County Academy Monday night. The Rebelettes won 79-27 in the opener with the Rebels taking a 79-61 victory in the second game.
NCA returns to action tonight at Pelahatchie against East Rankin Academy. Leake hosts Central Academy tonight in Madden.
Leake boys 79
NCA 61
The Rebels started the second half with a 10-0 run to take a 20-point advantage at 52-32 with five minutes showing in the third quarter as they won the season opener for both teams.
The Generals got to within 14 at 56-42 on a basket from Jonathan Moore with 1:18 left in the third quarter, but could get no closer.
Drew Wolverton led Leake with a game-high 29 points. Daniel Jones added 17, Jay Gulley had 14, Justin Chancellor scored seven, and Charlie Lavender had six. The Rebels were playing without three starters who are members of the playoff-bound football team.
NCA was led by Bud Loper's 15 points. Wil Bean scored 12, Moore and Dustin Jones both had eight, while Donovan Cooksey and David White both had six.
Leake led 24-13 after one quarter and carried a 42-32 lead into halftime.
Leake girls 79
NCA 27
The tradition-rich Rebelettes jumped out to a 29-7 first quarter lead in improving to 3-0. Leake led 10-1 barely two minutes into the contest and never looked back.
Laurin Gross, who came in averaging 26.5 points, led Leake with 18 points. Jessica Dickens scored 11. Also in double figures was Lauren Powers with 10. Kristin Caldwell, who came in with a 24.5 average, and Traci Harrell both scored nine points. B.J. Helton tossed in six.
Leake has a string of 19-consecutive 25-win seasons under Wolverton.
Leake's 24th victory this season will be Wolverton's 800th.
NCA, 0-3, got 11 points from Andi Chesney, seven from Tracy McMahan, and five from Casey McMahan.
Marty Stamper is a writer for The Meridian Star. E-mail him at mstamper@themeridianstar.com or call him at 693-1551, ext. 3235.