By By Jeff Byrd / staff writer
June 27, 2003
NEWTON Having to replace the 20-point plus a night scoring of graduated senior Kotreece Bender is going to be tough for the Newton High Lady Tigers next season, but head coach Crandal Porter is hoping that a quicker team can spell another successful year.
Newton opened the State Games of Mississippi's High School girls basketball tournament by beating respected Mississippi Private School Association power Pillow Academy out of Greenwood 52-48 on Thursday afternoon in the Newton Gym.
The Lady Tigers, who advanced to the semifinals of the State 2A Tournament behind Bender last March, got three key steasl and layup baskets by Rosalyn Jones.
Two of Jones' steals and baskets helped Newton grab a 34-24 lead about five minutes into the second half. Pillow, though, mounted a comeback ripping a 14-3 run capped by a pair of three-pointers from Meg Flanagan and two steals and baskets by Katie Buford.
The latter of Buford's baskets gave Pillow its last lead at 38-37.
Newton's Jessica Anderson answered with a tie-breaking basket to make it 40-38. Jones then followed with her third basket to up the lead to 42-38 with 40 seconds to go.
Pillow's last chance to get back in it went awry when Stribling Whites missed a three-pointer with 22 seconds left.
Pillow head coach Derwin Carpetner liked how his team competed against the MHSAA team on its own floor.
Jones led Newton with 12 points. Anderson and Chasity Henderson each had six. Newton will play Lake, who beat Nanih Waiya 46-27 in Thursday's first game, today at 12:30 in Newton.
Newton Boys 61
Kemper County 56
Newton's Josh Norman and Cornelius Caraway hit a pair of free throws in the final 30.7 seconds to pace the Tigers past Division 5-2A foe Kemper County 61-56 on Thursday in a boys opening round game of the State Games of Mississippi.
Caraway finished with 14 points while Demario Walker also had 14. Dartae Dawkins chipped in 12 points for the Tigers who trailed by six early in the second half.
A 10-0 run keyed by baskets from Walker and Dawkins put Newton up 45-41. The lead would grow to 11 at 53-42 before the Wildcats came back to within one at 57-56.
There was no roster available for Kemper County.
Today, Newton takes on another divisional foe in William Sullivan at Newton at 11:20 a.m. The afternoon game at 2:50 will have Newton playing rival Lake. Kemper County plays Cleveland High at 11:20 a.m. at Newton County and Bay Springs at 4 p.m. at East Central.
Lake girls 46
Nanih Waiya 27
Valarie Harris tossed in 22 points to lead Lake who advanced to the 1A State semifinals last March to a 46-27 win over Nanih Waiya on Thursday in Union.
Harris scored 10 in the first half and 12 in the second half to pace Lake. Arnita Lay chipped in nine points.
Heather Steele led Nanih Waiya with nine points and Amber Eaves added seven.
Lake meets Newton today at 12:20 in Newton. Nanih Waiya takes on Pillow Academy today at 1:40 at East Central.