Northeast rolls past Florence

By By Ryan Satcher/staff writer
January 24, 2004
Northeast rolled past Florence in a pair of basketball games on Friday night.
The Trojans struggled early but blew past the Eagles for a 75-61 victory while the Lady Trojans picked up a 66-35 win in girls' action.
In the boys' game, Florence stayed in the game in the first quarter thanks to strong play by Chris Bridges, who scored the first 10 points for the Eagles.
Antonio Cousin scored the final four points for Florence in the first quarter and the Eagles held a 14-13 advantage.
Florence took a 21-18 lead in the second quarter but the Trojans came storming back. Northeast used a diamond-and-one to shut down Bridges and got the offense going.
A pair of free throws and a dunk by Alex Ford gave Northeast the lead. Harold Grace hit a three-pointer and a two to stretch out a 27-23 victory.
Northeast outscored Florence 10-4 in the final minutes of the half and held a 37-27 lead at half.
The Trojans stayed hot in the second half and went on a 15-4 run after Florence hit a three to start the half.
Grace scored seven points in the run to help Northeast stretch the lead to 52-34.
Northeast was able to take a 59-38 lead after three quarters on a last-second basket by Romero Osby.
Florence was able to cut into the lead in the fourth quarter against Northeast's subs, but the Trojans held on to the big lead to take a 75-61 victory and improve to 7-12 overall and 1-2 in division play.
Grace finished with 20 points for Northeast while Osby and Ford scored 14 points. Maurice Langston added 10 points for the Trojans.
Bridges finished with 26 points for Florence in the loss.
Northeast will host a classic today and take on West Lowndes. Choctaw Central and Northeast Jones will play in the early games.
Northeast girls 66
Florence 35
Crystal Hopson and Shaquita Bell guided the Lady Trojans to a 66-35 victory over Florence in the girls' game.
Bell scored 20 points and Hopson added 16 to lead Northeast to the victory.
Northeast outscored Florence 11-4 in the final minutes of the first quarter. The Lady Trojans hit five free throws in the stretch to take an 18-9 lead after the first quarter.
The Trojans outscored the Lady Eagles 22-8 in the second quarter to stretch the lead to 40-17 at halftime.
Bell scored 15 in the first half with 11 of those coming in the second quarter while Hopson scored 12 points on 10 free throws in the half.
The Trojans stretched the lead to 50-21 in the opening minutes of the second half and led 56-26 at the end of the third quarter.
Northeast held on for the 66-35 victory to improve to 10-9 for the season and 1-2 in division play.