By Staff
DEFENDING CHAMPS Southeast Lauderdale's Ree Nowell tries to put back up a rebound against Raymond's Ashley Stimage (#34) and Angelette McPhearson (#23). Photo by Paula Merritt/ The Meridian Star
By Jeff Byrd/The Meridian Star
Dec. 21, 2001
In a clash of defending state champions, Southeast Lauderdale's Lady Tigers got the better of two-time champion Raymond here in a Thursday night prep contest at Southeast.
Southeast had six players score at least six points in the 55-39 win. The victory closes out the first half of the Lady Tigers' season at 14-3.
In the boys game, Raymond used a run-and-gun attack to beat the Tigers 94-75.
Southeast Girls 55
Raymond 39
Defending 3A champion Southeast got in front early and never trailed in its contest against the 4A champs from Raymond. The game was set up on short notice at the request of interim Raymond Head Coach Monty Mullins who is a Meridian native.
Raymond, now 6-6 with the loss, was hurt by an ankle injury in starting point guard Almammiya Marshall. They were also still struggling to get to know Mullins who stepped in when the former coach was suspended.
Southeast had no such problems from the perimeter getting a three-pointer each from Samantha Smith and Lesley Ruffin to grab a 12-4 lead.
Another three from LaShondra Hall and a coast-to-coast basket by Ruffin put the Lady Tigers up 29-18 with 5:41 left in the third quarter.
Southeast was up 32-18 when Ruffin picked up her fourth foul with 3:40 left in the third. Raymond pulled back to 10 at 38-28 early in the fourth quarter.
That's when Smith came up with a burst to fuel a decisive 10-2 run. Her steal and layup followed by a three-pointer boosted the Lady Tigers to a 48-30 advantage with 4:17 to play.
Raymond had one last flurry getting it down to 12 after a three-pointer from Marshall with 1:29 left to make it 49-37. It was the only made three-pointer in the game for the Lady Rangers.
Ruffin led Southeast with 13 points. Smith had 12 including seven in the fourth quarter. Kanitta Cooley chipped in 10 while Shalonda Mitchell had eight.
Veronica Frazier paced Raymond with 14 points and MarQuissa Mack chipped in 10.
Raymond Boys 94
Southeast 75
Raymond scored 58 points in the first half and cruised from there to even their season record at 8-8.
Southeast falls to 2-14 with the loss.
Other than the points fest, the game had a bizarre scene with 25 seconds left when Raymond player Kinyel Brooks was sent to the dressing room after getting into an argument with Coach Ron Hines.
Brooks stopped, threw off his jersey, stomped on it and then yelled something back to his teammates on the bench. He was assessed a technical foul and went out the door, shirtless.
Southeast, for their part, had no such attitude problems and again played hard despite being out-manned.
LaPatrick Carlisle turned in a gutsy effort leading the Tigers with 25 points. Ben Reed totaled 24 including 19 in the first half. He was a perfect 9-for-9 from the free throw line.
Nekemiah Nwankpah added 14 for Southeast.
Raymond was paced by Cortney Bradley who fired in a game high 28 points. Three of his 14 baskets came off dunks including a massive alley-oop in the third quarter.
Ceric Anderson had 13 and Jemiel Wiggins added 10.
Jeff Byrd is a sports writer for the Meridian Star. He can be reached at 693-1551 or by e-mail at jbyrd@themeridianstar.com.