11/11/2009 6:00:00 PM EC Warriors rally to clip Tigers; Lady Warriors roll
Sophomore Kenneth Thomas pumped in 18 points - including several three-pointers in the game's final minutes - to lead East Central Community College to a 63-57 come-from-behind victory over Northeast Mississippi Community College Saturday afternoon in the Brackeen-Wood Physical Education Building.
Thomas, a 6-4 guard and product of Jackson Provine, drained a trey as the shot clock sounded to give EC a 51-47 advantage with 4:15 left, and connected on his fourth trey of the non-division contest with 3:32 remaining which gave the Warriors a 54-50 lead. Freshman guard Keondre Hodges' lay-in gave EC the cushion it needed at 58-50 with 44 seconds remaining and the Warriors held on for their first season victory and improved to 1-2.
Hodges, a former Newton High School standout, finished with 12 points as did freshman Titus Mims, a product of Alief Hastings in Houston, Texas. Also scoring were Antonio Grace of Newton, nine; Jonathan McLenden of Alief Hastings, five; Aquill Baynard of Elsik High School in Houston, Texas, four; and Steve Edwards of Newton, three.
Tyrie Berry had 16 points to lead Northeast, which fell to 1-2.
EC, which trailed by 17 points during first half action, cut the deficit to 31-22 at the break. The Warriors outscored the visitors by a 41-26 margin in the second half.
In the women's contest, the Lady Warriors jumped out to a 47-26 halftime advantage and cruised to an 81-59 thumping of the visiting Lady Tigers.
EC, which improved to 2-1, was led by freshman center Bianca Thomas of Sebastopol, who had 11 points.
Other point makers were Danielle Cole of Philadelphia and Shantell Neely of Searcy, Ark., nine each; Hannah Lee of Leake Academy, eight; Jakiala McWilliams of Neshoba Central, Alise Bryant of Northwest Rankin and Sharae Pigues of Olive Branch, seven each; Sierra Croff of Newton County and Quentinette Odom of Scott Central, six each; Yolanda Jones of Lake, five; Demetria Slocum of Bradford High School, Starke, Fla., four; and Xenobia Lavender of Noxapater, two.
Chelsey Whitaker poured in 14 points for Northeast, which fell to 0-2.
ECCC falls to EMCC
Lady Warrior Yolanda Jones' three-point shot at the buzzer was blocked by East Mississippi Community College's Natalie Tate and the Lady Lions escaped with a 58-56 nail-biter over the ECCC women Thursday night in Scooba.
EC's men were also defeated, as the Lions made clutch shots in the game's final moments to post a 63-56 decision.
Danielle Cole led the Lady Warriors with 14 points. Also scoring were Jones and Hannah Lee, 11 each; Shantell Neely, eight; Sierrra Croff, five; Demetria Slocum, three; and Bianca Thomas and Quentinette Odom, two each.
Tate led EMCC with 17 points.
EC trailed 28-27 at the break.
In the men's contest, Kenneth Thomas and Joshua Carothers of Columbus led EC with 13 points each. Also scoring were Steve Edwards, 11; Aquill Baynard and Titus Mims, six each; Kendall Jackson of Columbus, five; and Keondre Hodges, two.
Coco Ware, a preseason second team NJCAA All-American, pumped in 24 points to lead EMCC. Ware made a key three-pointer with shot clock winding down to give the Lions a 61-54 advantage with just over a minute remaining.
EMCC held a 30-24 edge at the break.
Games this week
In games this week, ECCC squads travel to Coahoma Community College Monday, Nov. 9 and host Holmes Community College Thursday, Nov. 12. Game times are 6 p.m. (women) and 8 p.m. (men) in the Brackeen-Wood Physical Education Building.
The Lady Warriors and Warriors also host Itawamba Community College Saturday, Nov. 14, with women's action getting under way at 2 p.m. followed by the men's contest at 4 p.m. EC entertains EMCC Monday, Nov. 16. The women's game is set for 6 p.m. and the men's battle starts at 8 p.m.
