Tigers take title at Newton Invitational

By By Marty Stamper/EMG sports assistant
January 11, 2004
NEWTON Going into the Newton Invitational Tournament, the Newton Tigers hadn't had a whole lot to be excited about this basketball season.
After turning in a 3-0 effort and taking the championship with a 68-67 win over Choctaw Central Saturday night, the Tigers had plenty to celebrate.
Caraway stepped up big in the final 63 seconds making one basket and all four of his free throws. as the Tigers improved to 11-9.
The game was tied at 10 at the end of the first quarter before the Warriors spurted out to a 36-27 halftime lead.
Following a 3-pointer from Shelton that cut the gap to 36-30, neither team led by more than six points the rest of the game.
Choctaw Central, 15-3, took a 57-51 lead on a layup by Sean Ahshapanek, but Caraway sparked a comeback with a 3-pointer as the teams entered the fourth quarter tied at 47.
Trailing 66-62, the Warriors closed to within one on a trey from Scotty Nickey with 13 seconds left.
Both teams turned the ball over in the next four seconds and Caraway's two free throws with 9.9 seconds left enabled the Tigers to give up a layup to Jaric Anderson with three seconds left as time ran out.
Newton got 21 points from Caraway, 18 from Shelton, 11 from Courtney Ruffin, nine from Jemario Walker, and six from Tillman.
Choctaw Central got 18 points from Jaric Anderson, 14 from Ahshapanek, 13 from Rodgrick Anderson, and 12 from Nickey. The Warriors went 2-1 in the tournament.
Choctaw Central girls 82
Newton 69
The Lady Warriors bounced back from their first loss of the season to defeat Newton by 13 points.
The win left Choctaw Central and Bay Springs with identical 2-1 records in the four-team round robin. Choctaw Central took home the championship by virtue of a 61-57 victory over Bay Springs on Thursday.
In beating Newton, the Lady Warriors jumped out to a 23-10 first quarter lead only to have Newton close to within 35-29 before Choctaw Central carried a 40-33 lead into halftime.
The Lady Warriors were up 60-47 by the end of the third quarter.
Mystee Dale led Choctaw Central, 17-1, with 28 points. Tournament MVP Ashley Flint scored 22 points, Shyatesa York had 15, and Chantay Frazier added nine, after the Lady Warriors lost to Louisville on Friday.
Newton, 14-7, got 21 points from Rosalind Jones, 18 from Karmarshea Jones, 11 from Whitney Thames, and 10 from Chotsani Henderson.
Bay Springs girls 66
Louisville 48
Bay Springs outscored the Lady Wildcats in each quarter to finish the tournament with a 2-1 record.
The 17-1 Lady Bulldogs led 17-13 after one quarter and took a 31-26 lead into halftime. Bay Springs held a 49-40 advantage to start the final period.
Kristi Martin led Bay Springs with 26 points. Jasmine Payne and Nadosha Strickland both scored 14, and Leatrice Ulmer adding six.
Louisville, 12-4, went 1-2 in the tournament. The Lady Wildcats got 24 points from Kim Mullins, 16 from Dee Forrest, and eight from Erica Hardin.
Bay Springs boys 80
Louisville 56
The Bulldogs finished the tournament 1-2 and improved to 13-5 overall with the 24-point win. Bay Springs led by as many as 30 points in the fourth quarter.
Bay Springs led 23-12 at the end of the first quarter and carried a 42-25 lead into halftime.
Bay Springs got 22 points from Reggie Shellwood, who was 11-of-11 at the free-throw line. The Bulldogs got 11 points from Ben Jones, eight each from Phillip Sims and LaBarton Jones, and six each from Mike Jones and Derrick Hosey.
Louisville, 5-11, got 15 points from Monel Fuller, 12 from Charlse Heard, 11 from Doug Hudson, eight from Daryl Fuller, and six from Lamarcus Miller. The Wildcats went 0-3 in the tournament.