Wayne County advances to 5A semis
By By Ryan Satcher / staff writer
Feb. 27, 2003
JACKSON Wayne County used great inside play to overcome Olive Branch three-pointers and take a 60-51 win over the Conquistadors in the first round of the 5A State Tournament at the Mississippi Coliseum.
Cedrick Jones scored 24 points and Dietric Slater added 23 to lead the War Eagles to victory.
The War Eagles took an early lead in the ballgame, but Olive Branch used great outside shooting from Justin Neely to take the lead away.
Neely hit four three-pointers in the quarter and Ben Austin had a three-point play to give the Conquistadors a 17-13 lead after the first quarter.
Wayne County came back in the second quarter to take back the lead. Slater helped lead a 10-0 run by the War Eagles with six points and Wayne County took a 23-19 lead.
Jones scored the final seven points of the quarter for Wayne County and the War Eagles held on to a 30-26 lead at halftime.
Olive Branch used a 9-2 run capped off by another three by Neely to take a 35-32 lead midway through the third quarter. Wayne County responded with four points from Slater and, after two free throws by Olive Branch, Akeem Lofton hit a three-pointer to give Wayne County a 39-37 lead.
Jones scored the final four points of the third quarter for Wayne County to help the War Eagles hang on for a slim 43-42 lead after three quarters.
After a basket from Slater, Neely hit three free throws to tie the game with 6:25 remaining.
The War Eagles took over the game in the final six minutes. Jones scored six straight points for Wayne County and the War Eagles went on a 14-2 run to take a 59-47 lead with 56 seconds remaining. Neely, who finished with 24 points, added a pair of baskets in the final seconds, but Wayne County took the 60-51 victory to advance to the semifinals.
The War Eagles will face a very tough Starkville squad led by the state's top player in Travis Outlaw on Tuesday for the chance to advance to the 5A state championship game.
Wayne County improves to 24-4 on the year with the win over Olive Branch.
