By Staff
From Staff Reports
Jan. 18, 2002
The Heidelberg Oilers come back to Meridian on Friday night. The Oilers are 17-4 on the season after turning back Newton County 62-44 on Tuesday in divisional action.
The combination of Marvin McDonald and Derrick Turner combined for 34 points in the win. The Oilers pretty much hold a lock on the top seed for the Division 5-3A Tournament which they will be the host team.
The Oilers already own two wins over Meridian and will seek the hat-trick. Heidelberg won at home in November and then beat the Wildcats in their own gym on the second night of the Frazier-Yarbrough Tournament.
Jeff Byrd
Umpires on alert to be professional
Charles Naylor, the assigning secretary for the East Mississippi Baseball Umpires Association, wants his officials to display the upmost in professional appearance and manner for the upcoming prep baseball and girls fast-pitch softball season.
Naylor urged coaches to inform him when umpires come to their assigned games dressed inappropriately or late.
Naylor says he wants to listen to the coaches this season, but don't call complaining about getting tossed.
To that end, coaches can help their case by promptly evaluating umpires after each game.
Jeff Byrd
Baseball starts with Lauderdale tourney
The prep baseball season will open on Feb. 15 with the Lauderdale County Baseball Tournament, which will be held at John Moss Field in Meridian.
Meridian head baseball coach Vince McLemore is hoping to make the County Tournament an annual event.
All five of the public county baseball programs are entered, including defending Class 3A champion West Lauderdale. The other four county teams entered include: Clarkdale, Northeast Lauderdale, Southeast Lauderdale and host Meridian.
Jeff Byrd
Wildcats clinch top seed in tourney
The Meridian Wildcats will be the top seed when the Division 2-5A tournament tips off next month in Meridian. The Wildcats completed a 3-0 run through one of the tougher divisions in 5A which featured two teams ranked in the top five.
Last Friday night, Meridian knocked off top-ranked Columbus 44-34 at MCC's Ivy Center. On Tuesday, Meridian whipped third-ranked Starkville 80-66.
The game was the first on the new, wooden floor at the Meridian Physical Education Building.
In three division games, the Wildcats posted an average margin of victory of 13 points a game. They previously whipped Tupelo 81-66 in Tupelo.
On Friday night, the 13-8 Cats host Heidelberg, a team that has beaten them twice already this season.
Meridian, however, has won all three of its games in 2002. This includes an overtime win at Hattiesburg.
Jeff Byrd
Sumrall takes two from Enterprise
Enterprise lost a pair of Division 7-2A basketball games Tuesday at Sumrall. The Lady Bulldogs fell 34-31 in the opener. Enterprise, 5-18, got 11 points from Kaccy Jimmerson and eight from Teela McBride. Sumrall, 17-5, got 12 points from Kiona Jackson and 11 from Nicci Miller.
The Bulldogs lost their contest 86-68. Sumrall took a 32-24 lead into halftime and then scored 32 points in the third quarter to go up 64-45.
Enterprise got 22 points from Corey Boggan, 19 from Mitchell Burns, 10 from Don Moore, and seven each from Derrick Jones and Anthony Johnson.
Sumrall, 8-10, got 28 points from Jacoby Rawls, 12 each from Alton Preston and Alvin Robinson, and 10 each from Jonathan Aultman and Ryan Collins.
Marty Stamper
Meridian's baseball motto rings true
A t-shirt on a Meridian coach had these words which serves as the Wildcats motto for 2002:
so we can kick yours…."
Jeff Byrd
Patrician-Pickens games canceled
The Saints and Lady Saints of Patrician Academy will next play against arch-rival South Choctaw Academy on Tuesday. The Saturday games between Pickens and Patrician have been canceled.
Austin Bishop