Quitman rolls to title

By By Will Bardwell/staff writer
January 11, 2004
Quitman jumped on Kemper County early and often on Saturday night as the Panthers took a decisive 72-47 win over the Wildcats in the finals of the Sam Dale Tournament at Northeast Lauderdale High School.
Quitman, which improved to 12-8 with the victory, never trailed and was never threatened. The Panthers led by 25 at halftime and allowed just six points in the second quarter.
The Panthers' Daniel Boyd led all scorers with 17 points. Prince Trotter chipped in 14 points for Quitman.
Carlos Coleman helped spark the Panthers late in the second quarter. Coleman sank a three-pointer late in the second quarter, then picked up a steal and drove the floor for a layup. Moments later, Coleman pulled down a rebound and drew an over-the-back foul.
The Panthers lost some of their intensity in the second half, but by then, the game was out of hand. Early in the third quarter, Kemper County got two quick baskets. Though his team still led by more than 20, a furious Hampton called timeout. His team regrouped and led by close to 30 for the rest of the quarter.
Kemper County enjoyed its most success in the fourth quarter, when the Wildcats outscored Quitman 24-21. Kemper County got several driving layups late in the game against a previously unforgiving Quitman defense.
Colby Wren had 15 points for the Wildcats, and Rodricus Hopson added 13.
SE Lauderdale (girls) 53
NE Lauderdale 40
Southeast Lauderdale overcame offensive inconsistency in the first three quarters to pull out a 53-40 win over Northeast Lauderdale for the girls championship in the Sam Dale Tournament.
The game was tied 20-20 at halftime and 32-32 after three quarters, but the Lady Tigers' dormant offense came alive in the fourth quarter against Northeast Lauderdale's stingy man-to-man defense. Sam Smith scored eight straight points for Southeast Lauderdale during a key run as the Lady Tigers outscored the Lady Trojans 12-2 during the middle of the fourth quarter.
Eleven of Smith's game-high 18 points came during the fourth quarter. Stacy Tate added 17 points for Southeast Lauderdale, which is now 18-1.
Northeast Lauderdale held the Lady Tigers to just seven points in the first quarter, but Southeast Lauderdale broke out of its slump in the fourth quarter. With 2:30 left in the game adn the Lady Trojans trailing by five, Lady Tigers guard Tiawanna Pringle drove the lane and found Tate underneath the basket with a behind-the-back pass. Tate sank an easy layup for a 44-37 advantage.
It was all the breathing room Southeast Lauderdale needed.
Shaquita Hopson led Northeast Lauderdale with 12 points. Shirlonda Jackson had 10 points for the Lady Trojans.
SE Lauderdale (boys) 54
NE Lauderdale 53
Southeast Lauderdale got 23 points from Alex West as the Tigers edged Northeast Lauderdale in a 54-53 win.
Alex Michael scored 11 points and Chris Gordon added 10 more for Southeast Lauderdale, which trailed by two points at halftime and entering the fourth quarter.
Harold Grace led the Trojans with a 23-point effort of his own, tying West for the game's leading scorer.
West drained 7-of-8 free throws for the Tigers.
Quitman (girls) 55
Kemper County 50
Kemonica McGee poured in 25 points and Mashana Bonner had 20 points as Quitman beat Kemper County 55-50 in the girls consolation game.
After building a 10-point lead in the first quarter, Quitman fell behind 27-22 at halftime. The Pantherettes rallied in the second half, taking a three-point lead into the fourth quarter before winning by five.
LaKaisha Coleman, who shot 10-of-13 from the free throw line, led the Lady Wildcats with 20 points.