Free throws key Wayne County's upset of Columbus
By By Henry Matuszak / special to The Star
March 4, 2003
JACKSON As the Columbus Lady Falcons filed out of the locker room after their game with Wayne County, the looks on their faces told the story.
Dianca Jones and Jennifer Latham fought backs tears, while Michelle Poindexter was among those with a look of disbelief.
The faces were evident that the Lady Falcons' dreams of a state championship were dashed.
The season came to end for the Lady Falcons on Monday when they suffered a 59-47 loss to Wayne County in the semifinals of the Class 5A State Tournament at Mississippi Coliseum.
The Lady Falcons set a lofty goal to win a state championship after finishing runner-up a season ago. Hopes and expectations were high with talk of an undefeated season when the Lady Falcons won their first 26 games this season and were ranked No. 1, but it all came to an end against Wayne County.
Wayne County advances to play the winner of today's game between Jackson Callaway and Jackson Murrah in the championship game at 6:30 p.m. Friday.
Columbus was unable to equal a feat of a year ago when it beat Wayne County in the semifinals to make it to the championship game.
Columbus didn't resemble the team that won its first 26 games with the closest game being nine points.
The Lady Falcons trailed the remainder of the game after falling behind
10-9. They trailed 14-13 at the end of the first quarter, but were outscored 12-1 to fall behind 26-14 in the second.
Columbus got back within three points at 33-30, 35-32 and 37-34 in the third quarter, but couldn't get any closer.
Wayne County gained control in the final quarter and led by as many as 13 points at 52-39.
Wayne County scored only 33 points in last year's loss to Columbus, but was one point shy of that when it led 32-23 at the half Monday.
Columbus didn't help its cause by making just 6-of-17 free throws.
The Lady Falcons were led by Poindexter with 21 points and 14 rebounds, Dianca Jones with 10 points and six rebounds and Jennifer Latham with nine points.
Poindexter fouled out with 12.2 seconds remaining and was replaced by LaToya Taylor, the first time the Lady Falcons made a substitution the entire game.
Wayne County was led by Ratassia Worsham with 28 points and Carla Bartee with 18 points.
Worsham was 12-of-13 at the free throw line. She was 10-of-11 in the fourth quarter to help the Lady War Eagles secure the victory.
