By By Jeff Byrd/The Meridian Star
Dec. 22, 2001
LAUREL Cedric Pierre's layup off an inbound play lifted Heidelberg past Laurel 70-68 here at Watkins Gym.
The Oilers, now 10-3, battled back from an 11-point deficit in the fourth quarter to beat the Tornadoes. Laurel falls to 5-7 with the loss.
Heidelberg also won the girls game 59-47.
With 3:40 remaining in the game, the Oilers trailed 65-54. Yet 20 seconds later, the Laurel lead was down to just four following a key, seven-point spurt.
uneccessary," said Laurel Head Coach Wilson Terrell. "This had been our best game of the season. We just didn't take our time when we had the lead."
Fred Stephens started the Oiler run with two free throws. A steal
followed by a three-pointer fro Marvin McDonald made it 65-59. Another steal was converted by Pierre to make it 65-61.
A three-point play by John Arrington with 2:23 left put the Tornadoes up
68-63. Pierre responded with five straight points including two inside
buckets to tie the game at 68-all with 1:06 left.
Laurel had one good shot at retaking the lead but Arrington's 10-footer
in the lane missed with 34 seconds left. Heidelberg's Joe Agee tried the
drive the lane and was fouled by Arrington.
Agee was hurt was subbed out by Jessie Yates who then missed both free
throws with 17.3 seconds left. On the second miss, Pierre forced a jump
ball. The arrow pointed to the Oilers, giving them a second chance. This
time, Pierre scored easily off the inbound to make it 70-68 with 12 seconds
left.
Laurel fumbled away its final chance after the Pierre basket.
Oilers in absence of a sick head coach. I'm the acting coach tonight. It's been about 10 or 12 years since I last did a game. I'm old and rusty but the kids did I what I wanted."
Heidelberg led 20-11 after one quarter and 38-32 at the half. Pierre was
8-for-8 from the line in the second quarter and finished with 18 points.
Stephens had 17. Derick Turner scored nine before being disqualified following his third technical foul.
Laurel was led by Jermaine Cobbins with 20 points. Arrington and Marcus
Dase each had 11. Dase scored 10 of his 11 in the third quarter as Laurel used a 25-point third quarter to grab the lead.
Heidelberg Girls 59
Laurel 47
Heidelberg went on a 13-0 run to close out the first quarter following a
Laurel basket. They went on from there to grab an easy victory.
The Lady Oilers led 35-14 at the half and 51-28 following three quarters.
Princess Bender led Heidelberg with 12 points. Jessica Yates had nine while LaTonya Walker and Moneshia Cooley each had eight.
LaToya Anderson scored 21 including eight in the final quarter to help Laurel make it respectable.