By By Marty Stamper/staff writer
Jan. 27, 2002
FOREST When Neshoba Central's Rockets pulled out of the second-annual Broiler Classic, it suited Northeast Lauderdale boys' basketball coach Lewis Lightsey just fine as it gave his team a chance to play another game as the season winds down.
Lightsey's Trojans took the Rockets' place and put a 66-51 whipping on the host Forest Bearcats.
In other boys' games, West Lauderdale built a 21-point lead in the first half and held off Kosciusko for a 57-51 win, while Morton grabbed a 64-52 victory over Choctaw Central.
Forest led Northeast 13-7 in the first quarter before the Trojans went on a 10-0 run behind a pair of 3-pointers from Jamaal Martin to take a 17-13 lead. Northeast finished the opening period with a 17-15 advantage.
The Trojans outscored Forest 20-6 in the second period to take a 37-21 advantage into halftime.
Northeast opened the second half with six of the first nine points to claim a 19-point lead at 43-24 and held a 50-34 advantage to start the fourth quarter.
The Trojans opened the final period with an 8-0 run to go up 58-34 for their biggest lead of the night.
Martin led Northeast, 22-4, with 17 points that included a 5-of-6 showing at the free-throw line. The Trojans were 13-of-20 at the charity stripe while Forest was 6-of-8.
Northeast also got 11 points from Stephen Dyess, whose defensive help on Forest's Charles Rhodes kept the Bearcats' 6-foot-8 sophomore frustrated.
The Trojans also got 10 points apiece from Dekenno Winston and Kalani White and nine each from Will Matlock and Marcus Betts.
Forest, 19-5, was led by Pierre Barlow's 15 points. Barlow hit three 3-pointers. Rhodes had 13 points, James Dixon added nine, and Braxton Boone tossed in six.
West Lauderdale 57
Kosciusko 51
The Knights used a strong first half to knock off the Whippets. West led 19-9 after one quarter and carried a 41-20 lead into halftime.
Kosciusko outscored West 12-3 in the third period to close to within 44-32.
The Whippets then outscored the Knights 19-13 over the final eight minutes.
Boo Ramsey hit five 3-pointers in leading West, 19-8, with 20 points. Calvin Moore added 19.
Kosciusko, 12-13, got 17 points from William Steward, 15 from Derrick Huffman, and seven each from Ken Speight and Chris Hall.
Morton 64
Choctaw Central 52
The Panthers improved to 18-3 with their win over the Warriors.
Morton led 21-13 after one period and carried a 41-27 lead into halftime.
Choctaw Central trailed 51-39 to start the fourth quarter.
Ralph Peterson led Morton with 17 points. Andrew Lewis scored 15 and Elijah McDonald added 13.