By Staff
Feb. 28, 2001
JACKSON If you snooze, you lose. The Choctaw Central Lady Warriors taught the Independence Lady Wildcats that lesson Tuesday morning with an 84-50 first-round beating in the Class 3A State Tournament in the Mississippi Coliseum. The 9 a.m. tipoff didn't hinder the Lady Warriors as they racked up points left and right.
Maryland wasn't about to let this lead slip away against No. 2 Duke. The 16th-ranked Terrapins blew a 10-point lead in the final minute a month ago at home, but got revenge in Cameron Indoor Stadium by beating the Blue Devils 91-80 Tuesday night. Juan Dixon was the offensive an defensive hero for the Terrapins (19-9, 9-6 Atlantic Coast Conference), scoring 28 points and getting five steals.
Feb. 28, 1997
Euphoria abounded. Ole Miss students swarmed the court in celebration. The nets were being cut down by players wearing T-shirts proclaiming them Southeastern Conference Western Division champions. The Rebels despite having no seniors on the team, had just defeated LSU 74-68 to clinch the SEC West title outright. The victory came at Tad Smith Coliseum in Oxford where they were 14-1 this season and have won 21 of their last 22 games.
JACKSON The Meridian High Lady Wildcats had several chances to lose their first-round state tournament game with Madison Central Wednesday night at the Mississippi Coliseum. Forward Joni Crenshaw and center Larissa Neely, Meridian's two best inside players, spent large portions of the game on the bench in foul trouble. Both played the game's last four minutes with four fouls. Clinging to a three-point lead in the game's final minute, the Lady Wildcats missed five straight free throws, giving Madison Central every opportunity to tie the game. But be it skill or good fortune, the Lady Cats wound up with a 51-48 win over the Lady Jaguars and a ticket to the 5A state semifinals, where they will meet North State champion Vicksburg Wednesday.
Feb. 28, 1992
NEWTON The East Mississippi Community College Lions looked as though they may have a slow start for the 1992 season after suffering a 6-5 loss to the Clarke College Panthers here on Thursday afternoon. But the day wasn't done. Thanks to a doubleheader, the Lions had a chance to redeem themselves, taking the second game 7-5.
Ryan Satcher
Sports Faces …
W.C. &Joyce Boone
William Boone and his wife Joyce love the Mississippi state basketball tournament.
The two-week event began Monday and runs until March 9 at the Mississippi Coliseum in Jackson.
Boone says his fondest memories of the state tournament are of the players.
And so what does Joyce think about having to go to all these games?
Jeff Byrd