By By Matt Barrett/The Meridian Star
Nov. 20, 2001
The Northeast Lauderdale Trojans upped their record to 5-2 on the young season with a 79-69 win over visiting Neshoba Central Monday night. In the girls game, Neshoba Central took a 59-41 victory.
Northeast Boys 79
Neshoba 69
Neshoba Central led early but Northeast's Dekenno Watson and Deharic Portis kept the Trojans within striking distance. Led by Calven Parker, the Rockets went up 18-12 at the end of the first quarter.
Tyron Ivy led Northeast on an eight-point run as the Trojans went up 21-18 with 4:48 left in the half. That seemed to ignite the Rockets as they scored nine unanswered point to lead 27-21 with 3:36 left in the period. Neshoba Central seemed to have the game under control as it led 40-27 at the break.
Northeast came out strong in the early seconds of the third period with a big play from center Stephen Dyess. Dyess stole the ball at midcourt, ran down the court and dunked it for two points, and was fouled for his efforts. Dyess made the free thrown and Northeast trailed 40-30.
Dehric Portis scored six points during the quarter to help the Trojans out point the Rockets 16-13 during the eight-minute span. At the break, Northeast had cut Neshoba Central's lead to eight 53-45.
That charge continued during the opening minutes of the fourth quarter as the Trojans exploded for a 12-0 run. Leading the charge was Dekenno Watson, Jimmy Grace and Dyess. Watson buried a three-point shot with three minutes left to play in game to give Northeast a 59-55 edge, and the Trojans did not trail again.
The Northeast Trojans will not see action again until Tuesday when they will travel to Clarkdale to play the Bulldogs.
Neshoba Girls 59
Northeast 41
Northeast Lauderdale suffered a tough loss to a 6-1 Nashoba Central team.
Northeast, now 3-5 on the season, remained close in the first period with help from point guard Marique Truman, who played defense and scored four points. The Lady Rockets would outscore the Lady Trojans 6-8 in the first period.
Neshoba Central built up its lead during the second period, outscoring Northeast 15-11. At the intermission, the Lady Rockets held a 25-17 edge.
There was no quit in the Lady Trojans, however, as they tossed in 18 points while holding the Lady Rockets to 15. Trailing 40-35 at the break, it appeared Northeast was ready to make a run for the lead. But it didn't happen. The Lady Trojans would only manage to score six more points in the game while the Lady Rockets added 10.
Lena Tucker led the Lady Rockets with 12 points.