By Staff
From staff reports
March 17, 2002
The Meridian Wildcats finished ranked seventh in the final Clarion Ledger prep high school boys poll.
The Wildcats ended the season with a tie of third place at the Class 5A State Boys Tournament held at the Mississippi Coliseum.
Coach Ernie Watson's team finished with a 21-12 record.
Gulfport High School, which won its eighth 5A title after beating Harrison Central in Friday night's finals, was ranked No. 1. Meridian lost to Harrison Central 57-55 in the 5A semifinals.
Harrison Central and Natchez were both ranked in the top five. Class 3A champ Corinth, who beat Heidelberg 69-61 on Saturday for the championship, was ranked 10th.
Jeff Byrd
Quitman off to a hot start
The Quitman Panthers baseball team is off to a 12-4 start after beating Union on Monday night in the Quitman Spring Break Tournament.
The Panthers own a win over Meridian and two of its losses were to 3A power Greene County and Northeast Jones.
The Panthers are led by a strong pitching staff. Left-hander Matthew Creighton beat Alabama 5A power Demopolis on Saturday, 3-1.
Creighton also picked up the win in relief in a 4-3 decison over Meridian back on March 2 at John Moss Field.
The No. 2 hurler for the Panthers is Southeast Lauderdale transfer Jonathan Russell.
The Panthers' third starter is Anthony McKenzie who combined on a three-hit shutout of Union on Monday night.
McKenzie fanned 10 Yellow Jackets in the win.
Jeff Byrd
Smith nominated for All-American
Tony Smith, a senior basketball player at Newton County High School, has been nominated for the 2002 McDonald's All American High School Basketball Team.
Smith has been recognized as one of the finest basketball players in the country through his nomination to the 2002 McDonald's All American High School Boys Basketball Team.
He is one of the 1,500 male prep basketball standouts in the nation nominated by the McDonald's All American Basketball Team Selection Committee, a group of nationally prominent basketball experts.
As a nominee, the 6-foot-9 post player is vying for one of the 24 positions on the final 2002 McDonald's All American High School Basketball Team that will compete in the 25th anniversary of the McDonald's All American High School Basketball Game.
Smith averaged 23.5 points-per-game this past season.
Lois Cooper