West wins South 3A

By By Jeff Byrd / sports editor
Feb. 23, 2003
The West Lauderdale Lady Knights successfully defending their South State 3A Chammpionship by defeating fellow Division 5-3A rival Choctaw Central 67-59 on Saturday night at Choctaw Central.
The West girls improve to 32-3 on the season and will receive a first-round bye in the State 3A Girls Tournament. Choctaw Central will play the No. 2 seed from the North in the opening round of the six-team tournament.
J.J. Huggins led the Lady Knights with 26 points. Kristina Gardner had 19 and Shannon Lloyd tossed in 11.
Choctaw Central was paced by Chantay Frazier with 27 points and Trish Phillips added 16.
West led 22-18 after one quarter. They added 20 more in the second to go up 42-37 at the half. They then outscored the Lady Warriors 16-12 in the third quarter to go up 58-49.
Northeast boys earn berth
The Northeast Lauderdale Trojans held on to beat Pass Christian 58-57 in Bay St. Louis in the consolation game of the South State 4A Boys Tournament played at St. Stanislaus' Brother Peter Gym.
The Trojans improve to 22-12 on the season and will make the State 4A Tournament in Jackson for the first time in several seasons.
Kalani White led the Trojans with 16 points. DeKenno Winston added 15.
Pass Christian, who finishes the season at 20-11, received 15 from Billy Crawford and 11 from Reuben Nichols.
Northeast led 15-11 after one quarter and 32-21 at the half. The Pirates ralled in the second half with a 15-11 third quarter to make it 43-36.