Wayne County defense takes win

By By Marty Stamper and Ryan Satcher/staff writers
January 3, 2004
PHILADELPHIA – Wayne County's Lady War Eagles used a stingy defensive effort for three quarters in beating Philadelphia 62-43 in the semifinals of the Neshoba Invitational Tournament at Neshoba Central High School Friday afternoon.
Wayne County will face West Lauderdale in tonight's championship game.
The Lady War Eagles made Ebeneezer Scrooge seem generous during the first three quarters Friday as they held Philadelphia to 17 points over the first 24 minutes.
Meanwhile, Wayne County's Ratassia Worsham scored 22 points as the Lady War Eagles built a 38-15 lead.
Worsham, an Ole Miss signee, finished with 26 points before fouling out late in the fourth quarter.
The Lady War Eagles led by as many as 23 points.
Wayne County, 7-3, also got nine points from Kathy Bivens.
Philadelphia, 11-3, got 14 points from Dominetrix Hunter, 13 from Shenique Brass, eight from Ashley Lowery, and six from Candi Shannon. The Lady Tornadoes tallied 26 of their points in the fourth quarter.
West Lauderdale 53
Neshoba Central 36
The Lady Knights led 15-4 after one quarter and extended their lead to 26-6 midway through the second period in beating the host Lady Rockets in the other semifinal.
The Lady Rockets cut their deficit to 32-18 early in the second half before a 13-0 run gave West a 45-18 advantage with less than two minutes to go in the third quarter. The 27-point lead was the Lady Knights' biggest of the night.
West, 11-5, got 13 points from Vankeila Wilson, eight each from Cierra Jennings and Shannon Lloyd, and six from Whitney Gale.
Neshoba Central, 3-13, got nine points from Monique Bell and six each from Ana Rushing and Hettie Brewer.
Carthage 62
Scott Central 61
Carthage handled the pressure and made free throws down the stretch to hold off Scott Central in the Neshoba Invitational Tournament on Friday.
The Lady Tigers were 6-for-6 from the line in the final minute of the game to pick up the win and improve to 10-6 for the season.
Carthage jumped out to an early lead in the first quarter and stretched it to 14-7 with a basket by Maria Neal with three minutes in the first.
Scott Central answered with a big run led by Latasha Johnson to outscore the Lady Tigers 13-2 in the final two minutes and take a 23-18 lead at the end of one quarter.
Carthage answered back and tied the game with a minute left on a shot by Jodie Rawson.
The two teams traded baskets in the final minute to make the score 31-31 at the break.
Both teams battled in the third quarter and neither could stretch out a lead. A three-point play by Beth Faulkner tied the game at 41 at the end of the third quarter.
Carthage jumped out to a 56-51 lead after a pair of baskets by Neal and Itanjula Townsend made two free throws after Scott Central's Quarnitra Murray hit a three to make the score 58-54.
After a basket by the Lady Rebels, Townsend hit another pair of free throws to give Carthage another four-point lead.
Another basket by Scott Central and a foul sent Alisa Matlock to the line to shoot two. She sunk both free throws and Johnson hit a three on the other end for Scott Central but the time ran out to give Carthage the 62-61 win.
Neal finished with 21 points to lead the Lady Tigers while Matlock scored 13. Elyse Clay scored 21 points for Scott Central and Johnson finished with 17.
Newton County 66
Forest 57
Newton County held off a strong run by Forest to take a 66-57 win in the Neshoba Invitation Tournament on Friday.
The Lady Cougars led by as many as 19 points in the second half before Forest put together a huge run.
The Lady Bearcats were able to cut the lead to six points at the end of the third quarter and cut the lead to three points with two minutes to play on a basket by Destiny Foster.
Forest cut the lead to 55-53 later in the quarter with two free throws from Octavia Kincaid but Newton County finished the game with a 9-2 run to take the 66-57 victory.
Dominique Mapp scored 19 points to lead Newton County in the win. Chan Moore finished with 14 points while Andrea Dubose added 11 and Nesha Ramsey scored 10.
Brittany McClendon scored 26 points for Forest in the loss.