Lady Tigers take 14th straight win

By By Dale McKee and Will Bardwell/staff writers
December 20, 2003
The Northeast Jones Lady Tigers ran their winning streak to 14 games with a 57-47 win over ninth-ranked Wayne County Friday night at Tiger Gym before a season-high crowd.
The win gives Northeast a 14-0 mark going into the Christmas break while Wayne County falls to 5-3.
In the boys' games, Wayne County defeated Northeast 96-60.
The girls' game was the featured attraction on this night, and it was a nip and tuck affair until the final minute of the third period. NEJ outscored WC 9-0 over the final minute of the third period and the opening three minutes of the fourth quarter to take the hard fought win.
The teams battled, but neither could manage a healthy lead in the game until the NEJ explosion in the final
minute of the third period. The teams were tied at 18-18 after the first period and 31-31 at half.
Wayne led most of the opening half except for the final four seconds. WC had a five-point lead in the first period and led Northeast 27-20 with five minutes to play in the half.
Wayne County 96
NE Jones 60
In the boys' game, Wayne County improved to 2-3 while Northeast falls to 2-11.
Junior David Howard led the War Eagles with 29 points in the win. WC led 21-6 after the first period and upped that to 48-18 at half. WC led 74-38 going into the final period.
Ced Jones added 19 points while Jerrell Powe chipped with nine points. Antonio Reed led the Tigers with 16
points while Bradley Blakeney added 12 points and Clyde Pruitt chipped in with 11 points.
The Northeast teams will host the Tiger Tourney later this month with South Jones and West Jones. Wayne County will play in the Neshoba Central Classic against Forest on Dec. 30 at 1 and 2:30 p.m.
GIRLS
Kemper Aca. 39
Sumter Aca. 37
Kemper Academy's girls basketball team survived a slow fourth quarter in which the team scored just three points and held off Sumter Academy 39-37.
The Lady Rams, who improved to 12-3 with the win, were led by Leslie Beach's 20 points. Heather Moody also came away with 20 for Sumter.
Eve Darnell added nine points for Kemper, and Sumter's Theresa Todd scored eight points.
Sumter is 7-3.
Scott Central 68
Lake 54
Elyse Clay scored 30 points to lead Scott Central to a 68-54 win against Lake.
Latasha Johnson and Queena Gage also scored in double figures for the Lady Rebels, now 9-2
Lake led 17-14 after one quarter, but Scott jumped ahead and built a 33-27 halftime lead and never looked back.