By By Ryan Satcher/The Meridian Star
Dec. 4, 2001
DECATUR The Newton County Academy girls used a big second quarter and hit some clutch free throws late in the game to win its opening game of the NCA Christmas tournament over Wayne Academy 47-45.
In other Monday night action, Heidelberg Academy girls defeat Sylva-Bay Academy 65-50, the Newton County Academy boys beat Sylva-Bay 45-39 and the Heidelberg boys downed Wayne 65-33.
In girls semifinal action today Heidelberg will play Kemper Academy at 4 p.m. and Newton County will play Central Academy at 7 p.m. Boys semifinal games will be Newton County against Central Academy at 5:30 and Kemper Academy playing Heidelberg at 8:30.
The Lady Generals went on a 6-2 run in the final three minutes of the game thanks to some clutch free throws and held off a strong Wayne comeback attempt in the two-point NCA win.
Both teams had trouble on the offensive end early in the game. Wayne scored the first point of the game in the first 30 seconds but could not make another shot until 1:17 was left in the first quarter. Newton scored four points in the last minute of the quarter to take the lead 8-5.
Newton then came out and dominated the second quarter. The Lady Generals outscored the Lady Jaguars 18-7 in the second, nine of which came from the free throw line.
Wayne Academy came back with a much stronger third quarter. The Lady Jaguars picked up the defensive intensity and were able to outplay Newton.
Wayne started the third quarter with a 6-0 run to get within eight. It would stay in that range until about four minutes into the fourth quarter when the Lady Jaguars made a run. Erin Wood scored two of her 19 points and Erin Stanley hit two free throws to cut the lead to 35-34.
After a Newton basket made the score 37-34, Wood cut the lead to one once again and the next time down the court hit a big three-pointer to put Wayne up 39-37.
The Lady Generals were far from out of it and got a big three-pointer with 2:56 left in the game from Cassie Cleveland to tie the game up at 41.
After a Wayne basket, Newton's Tracey McMahan was fouled and sent to the line to shoot two. McMahan calmly sank both free throws to tie the game back up.
A Wayne turnover gave the Lady Generals the ball back with 26 seconds left on the clock. Casey McMahan drove to the hoop for Newton and made the shot to make the score 45-43.
The Lady Jaguars could only make two-of-four free throws late in the game and lost 47-45.
Wayne Academy was led by Wood's 19 points and nine points by Janna Revette. The Lady Generals got 17 points from Casey McMahan and 13 from Cleveland.
The loss drops Wayne Academy to 4-2. The Lady Jags will host Sylva-Bay on Monday.
Heidelberg girls 65,
Sylva-Bay 50
Heidelberg outscored Sylva-Bay 16-6 in the third quarter and expanded the lead in the fourth to win 65-50.
Heidelberg lead by as many as 17 points in the third quarter and outscored Sylva-Bay 23-20 in the fourth quarter to improve its record to 3-3 on the year. Sylva-Bay drops to 1-4 .
Heidelberg was led by Ashley McInnis, who scored 19 points on the night and Suzanne Lightsey and Katie Barnett each added 15 in the victory. Sylva-Bay got 14 points from Ingrid Norvell and 12 from Jane Thompson in the loss.
Sylva-Bay will play again when the Lady Saints visit Wayne Academy on Monday.
Newton boys 45,
Sylva-Bay 39
The Generals used a 12-5 run to end the second half and an 11-3 spurt in the third quarter to help them defeat the Saints in first round action.
The Generals lead only 28-24 at the half and trailed 32-29 with four minutes left in the third quarter before putting together a run to get the lead for good.
Newton got 21 big points from Wil Bean to help it move into the semifinals of the tournament and improve its record to 2-5.
Sylva-Bay got 12 points from both Nathan Hayes and Tyson Brown in the loss. The loss drops the Saints to 1-4 on the year. They will travel to Wayne on Monday.
Heidelberg boys 65,
Wayne 33
Heidelberg Academy put three guys in double figures on the way to the 22-point win over Wayne Academy in Monday's nightcap.
It was the first game of the season for the Jaguars of Wayne, who are coming of an appearance in the MPSA Class A state football title game on Saturday.
Heidelberg led 13-4 after the first quarter and 37-20 at the half, before building it to 49-24 with one quarter left to play in the game.
Blake Bass led HA with 18 points, while Jonathan Cranford hit for 15 and Dan Edwards scored 13.
Steven Wood scored 15 points to lead the Jaguars.