Raiders comeback for win over Rebels

By By Robby Atkinson / staff writer
Dec. 13, 2003
The Lamar Raiders fell behind early, but the inside game proved to be the difference as the Raiders took a hard fought 57-45 win over South Choctaw Academy in the second day of the Lamar-Rush Pre-Holiday Classic.
Lamar trailed the Rebels 12-10 at the end of the first quarter, but the the rest of the game belonged to the Raiders.
Lamar opened the second quarter by outscoring South Choctaw 8-2 to take an 18-13 lead with 5:12 left in the first half. The Raiders were able to hold on to the lead at the half by a count of 23-19. The Rebels held Austin Roebuck to only four points in the second quarter.
The run that made the difference ended the third quarter and gave Lamar a 45-35 lead. The Raiders went on a 20-6 run to take the lead for good and roll into the championship game on Saturday against East Rankin beginning at 7:15 p.m.
Roebuck led Lamar with 18 points and David Haggard ended the night with 14 points.
Rob Dahlberg led the Rebels with a game-high 22 points and Justin Mason added 10.
South Choctaw returns to action against Wayne Academy in the consolation game at 4:45 p.m.
Lamar (girls) 50
SCA 37
The Lady Raiders also advanced to the title game by knocking off South Choctaw Academy in another hard fought game. The Lady Raiders got 10 points from Cheryl Luquire in a third quarter run that made the ultimate difference in the outcome.
The Lady Raiders took an 8-3 lead at the end of the first quarter thanks to four points from Kristina Makey. Lamar shot the ball much better in the second quarter as Elizabeth Luke connected for a 3-pointer right before the buzzer to give the Lady Raiders a 17-8 lead at the half.
Lamar had no troubles in holding the lead and took the second-round win over the Lady Rebels. Luquire finished with 13 points and Makey chipped in with 12.
Kristi Clark led the way for South Choctaw with 12 points. Carrie Boyte added seven.
The Lady Raiders will meet East Rankin in the title game of the girls' bracket and both teams are very familiar with each other. Lamar has taken two wins over East Rankin in three games this season. Tip-off is set for 6 p.m.
South Choctaw will square off with Wayne Academy in the consolation game at 3:30 p.m.
East Rankin (girls) 56
Wayne 52
The Lady Patriots used a 12-0 run to end the first half that Wayne Academy could not overcome as East Rankin took the four-point decision.
Crystal Sessums led the way for East Rankin with a game-high 23 points and Emily Massey added 13.
Kristen Palmer led Wayne Academy with 22 points and Erin Wood collected 13.
East Rankin (boys) 60
Wayne 52
East Rankin used excellent 3-point shooting all night to take the narrow win over the Jaguars. Curtis Weldon led the way in scoring for the Patriots with 22 points and Matt Dominy added 12.
Patton Stanley led the Jaguars with 22 points and Jacob Fontenot followed with eight.