Choctaw scores big victory
By By Rocky Higginbotham / special to The Star
Feb. 24, 2004
CHOCTAW The Poplarville Lady Hornets certainly didn't volunteer for their assignment Monday night in the first round of the Class 3A South State girls' playoffs.
In fact, not many teams in the state would have wanted to come to Choctaw Central's Scalping Grounds three days after the seventh-ranked Lady Warriors suffered a stunning loss on their home floor in the finals of the Division 5-3A Tournament.
Someone had to be the sacrificial lamb, though, and the Lady Hornets wound up with the unfortunate draw.
Homestanding Choctaw put up eye-popping numbers in one of its most impressive performances of the season, hammering Poplarville 111-51 to advance to the South State quarterfinals.
In improving to 31-2 for the year, the Lady Warriors also earned the right to host the South State Tournament Thursday through Saturday. Choctaw will take on either Franklin County or Magee in the third of four games Thursday at 7 p.m.
Lady Warriors' head man Walter Wilson said he wasn't trying to send any messages with the 111-point outburst the seventh time this season Choctaw has topped the century mark yet just wanted his team to regain its confidence after losing 44-43 to rival Southeast Lauderdale last Friday.
Consider some of Choctaw's amazing numbers:
The Lady Warriors forced 31 Poplarville turnovers, 21 of them in the first half.
Choctaw had just eight turnovers of its own and had 20 steals as a team.
Wilson's bunch spread the wealth, totaling an amazing 36 assists 15 of them by junior Chantay Frazier.
The Lady Warriors were 11-of-23 in the contest from three-point range, including 7-of-12 in the first half.
Frazier finished with a triple-double her fifth of the season scoring 30 points to go with 15 assists and 11 rebounds.
Ashley Flint scored 26 points; Mystee Dale scored 23; and Shyatesa York tossed in 12.
Kristi Willis had a team-high six steals, and Frazier and York both had five. Willis, Flint and York all had five assists.
The contest was tied at nine midway through the first quarter, but Choctaw scored the next 11 points and never looked back.
A 21-0 run in the second quarter which included three-pointers from York, Dale and Flint helped the Lady Warriors to a commanding 53-18 lead at halftime.
Wilson's starters exited to a rousing ovation with a 102-46 lead and more than two minutes still remaining in the contest.
Amanda Dedeaux led Poplarville with 14 points and six rebounds, and Jill Ferguson scored eight points. The Lady Hornets finished 24-8.
