Lady Rockets down Carthage

By By Marty Stamper and Austin Bishop / EMG staff writers
Dec. 31, 2003
PHILADELPHIA – Off to an uncharacteristic 3-12 start on the hardwood, the Neshoba Central Lady Rockets had no problem enjoying a 46-40 win over Carthage in the first round of the Neshoba Invitational Tournament at NCHS Tuesday.
The Lady Rockets continued to struggle early as they trailed 11-8 after one quarter and were still down 20-17 going into halftime. Neshoba outscored the Lady Tigers 16-12 in the third quarter to take a slim 33-32 advantage into the final period.
Over the last seven minutes, the Lady Rockets were 9-of-14 at the free-throw line to take the win. Ana Rushing was 5-of-7 at the line down the stretch.
Rushing led the Lady Rockets with 14 points. Kelli Thompson scored 10, Nichole Jones had eight, and Kristi Pilgrim added six.
Carthage, 9-6, got nine points each from Shonda Marshall and Amanda Schmidt and six apiece from Alisa Matlock, Jodie Rawson, and Maria Neal.
West Lauderdale 52
Scott Central 43
Vankeila Wilson scored 18 points and Shannon Lloyd tallied 17 as the Lady Knights overcame a three-point second quarter to improve to 10-5.
West scored the game's first eight points and led 16-9 at the end of the first quarter only to have the Lady Rebels carry a 21-19 lead into halftime. The Lady Knights led 37-30 by the end of the third period.
West also got eight points from Cierra Jennings.
Scott Central, 9-3, got 15 points from Latasha Johnson and 13 from Elyse Clay.
Philly Girls 71
Newton Co. 59
The Lady Tornadoes jumped out to a 16-9 lead after one quarter of play, then outscored Newton county 24-18 in the last quarter to take the 12-point win in tournament's opening game.
Ashley Lowery led four Philadelphia girls in double-figure scoring with 20 points, while Dominetrix Hunter scored 14, Natroya McWilliams hit for 13 and Danielle Cole scored 10.
Eshaa Wesley led the Lady Cougars with 15 points, while Dominque Mapp and Mallory Stringer scored 14 each.
Wayne Co. Girls 59
Forest 34
Before the game, veteran Wayne County head coach Gina Skelton was feeling kind of weak.
But after the game started, Skelton had few reasons to be feeling butterflies as her Lady War Eagles rolled to the 25-point win.
WCHS led 14-5 after one quarter of play and 27-10 at the half.
Ole Miss signee Tassi Worsham led 6-3 Wayne County with 21 points, while freshman Shameka Russell scored 11 and fellow freshman TeAnna Carter added 10.
Brittany McClendon and Maggie Moore scored nine points each to led the Lady Bearcats.