By By Jeff Byrd/staff writer
Feb. 9, 2002
Senior Night at Meridian High School saw both the Lady Wildcats and Wildcats start off fast but it was only Ernie Watson's boys who got a win on Friday night against visiting Jackson Provine.
Jamaine Winfield and Quann Carlisle each hit a pair of free throws in the final 32 seconds to lift Meridian to the 67-63 victory.
In the girls game, Provine scored 30 points in the final quarter to upend the Meridian girls 72-65.
The Wildcats zipped out to an 18-2 lead and then struggled against the young, but quick Provine Rams. The game came down to the free throw line in the final minute.
Provine did not take its first lead until 3:36 remained on a pair of free throws by Charlie White. The lead would switch hands three times and be tied twice before Windhom's two free throws put the Wildcats ahead 65-63 with 32 seconds left.
The Rams set up a tying shot with Jeremy Young taking a spin near the free throw line and putting up a 10-footer. The shot was short and Carlisle came up with the rebound and was fouled.
Carlisle then made both of his free throws with 6.4 seconds left to ice the game. Until the final four makes, the Wildcats were just 15-of-28 from the line.
Still, Watson was pleased his team came out with a win heading into next week's Division 2-5A Tournament set for the Meridian gym.
Meridian improves to 16-10 with the win. They will have the top-seed in the divisional tournament and will take on Starkville on Tuesday night.
The best was a second quarter jam where Windhom cut through the lane and flew in with force. The basket put Meridian up 26-18.
That was pretty much the game's flow. The Wildcats went back up 12 only to see Provine make it 34-26 by halftime. Meridian then opened the third quarter with a 7-0 run to take a 41-26 lead.
But the Rams came right back with a 15-5 spurt to cut it to 46-41. It was 54-45 after three quarters thanks to a three-point play and an impressive dunk by Meridian's Jamaine Winfield.
"It was good to see Jamaine play well. And Jason had a great game along with Keno (Leflore)," Watson said.
Three-pointers by Jeremy Young, who had a game high 24 points, and another by White helped Provine close to within one point at 56-55 with 4:52 to play.
Winfield, Leflore and Fred Cole each scored 10 points. Josh Walker had nine and Carlisle ended with eight.
Provine girls 72
Meridian 65
Meridian took a 45-42 lead into the final quarter only to watch Provine erupt with four 23-foot-plus, three-pointers from guards Victoria Anderson and Keisha Carter.
Carter's first trey, right off the key, snapped a 49-49 tie. Her 25-footer broke the game's final tie at 55-55.
Trailing by three, Meridian saw a two-shot foul come up empty. Provine made a long pass off the rebound resulting in a layup by Carter for a 60-57 lead.
Carter would take her team high 22 points to the bench when she picked up her fifth foul with 2:41 left but Meridian was unable to answer.
Anderson, along with Tosha and Leslie Christmas hit 10 straight free throws in the final two minutes to subdue the Lady Wildcats.
The Lady Wildcats, now 15-11, received 25 points from Valenica Hairston. Seventeen came in the first half as Meridian led 33-30.
But Meridian went just six-of-14 from the line in the second half and finished seven-of-15. Provine, on the other hand, was 16-of-19 in the last half.