Lady War Eagles take title

By By Dale MCKee/EMG sports writer
February 29, 2004
LAUREL The Wayne County Lady War Eagles claimed the South State Class 4A championship with a 53-50 win over homestanding Northeast Jones Saturday night before a packed house.
The win advances Wayne to the overall 4A tournament on Monday, March 8 at 6:30 p.m. in the Mississipi Coluseim against the winner between Bay High and Pontotoc.
Northeast Jones will battle Nouxbee County Wednesday at 1 p.m. in Jackson. Bay High nipped Mendenhall 57-55 for third place and gained the final spot in the overall tournament.
Northeast Jones jumped out to an early lead but Wayne County came back and took the lead at 10-9 for good with 1:36 to play in the opening period.
The Lady War Eagles led 12-11 after the first period.
Wayne moved out to a five-point lead in the second period but Northeast trimmed that margin to one (25-24) at halftime.
Wayne County upped their lead in the third period to as many as six points before settling for a 37-32 advantage entering the final period.
The visitors led by seven points with 6:46 to play in the game before Northeast Jones scored to cut the margin to 41-38 with 4:54 to play in the game.
Northeast fell behind and trailed 51-42 with only 58 seconds to play. Northeast then came alive as Jessica McKenzie and Kim Lewis hit back to back 3-pointers to cut the lead to 51-48 with 25 seconds to play. Ratassia Worsham hit one of two free throws to up the War Eagles lead to 52-48 with 21 seconds left.
The Lady Tigers came down and Kristian Blackledge hit a short jumper. NEJ only trailed 52-50 with seven seconds to play. Worsham then hit one free throw
and Wayne led 53-50 with three seconds to play.
She missed her next free throw and Kim Lewis grabbed the rebound and sped downcourt but just as she crossed mid-court the clock struck zero.
Worsham led WC with 17 points, while Kandace Russell added 10 points. Kim Lewis led NEJ with 19 points while Taphne Jackson chipped in with 15 points.