Choctaw Central drops N. Pike

By By Marty Stamper / EMG sports assistant
March 7, 2004
JACKSON One more win and the Choctaw Central Lady Warriors can party like it was 1999.
Led by Mystee Dale's game-high 28 points, the Lady Warriors earned their first appearance in a state championship basketball game since 1999 with a 74-62 win over North Pike Saturday night in the Mississippi Coliseum.
Choctaw Central, 35-2, will face the winner of Monday's game between Southeast Lauderdale and Ripley for the Class 3A state championship Friday at 1 p.m.
Dale scored 14 points in the first quarter as the Lady Warriors eased out to a 23-13 lead.
North Pike, 29-6, closed to within 25-21 early in the second quarter, but the Lady Warriors built their lead back up to 10 when Ashley Flint's jumper in the lane gave them a 33-23 lead with three minutes left in the half.
The Lady Jaguars battled back, cutting their deficit to 35-32 before Flint made 2-of-3 free throws with no time left on the clock after being fouled on a 3-point shot.
Dale, who is only 14-years-old, had 20 points by halftime.
North Pike rallied to within 41-38 before Flint scored just prior to taking a hard fall on her right shoulder with 6:30 to go in the third quarter. She sat out the remainder of the period.
Dale, Frazier, Siah Denson, and Shyatesa York took up her slack as they outscored the Lady Jaguars 21-10 over the remainder of the period for a 64-48 advantage with eight minutes left. It would be the Lady Warriors' biggest lead of the night.
The Lady Warriors struggled offensively much of the fourth quarter with only a 3-pointer from York to show for the first six-and-a-half minutes.
During that dry spell, North Pike had gotten to within 67-59 on a three-point play from Tenesia Lenard with 3:52 remaining.
Flint, who returned to start the fourth quarter, buried a trey with 1:22 left for a 70-59 Lady Warrior lead.
North Pike could get no closer than 11 points with a 3-pointer from Frazier with 32 seconds left clinching the berth in the title game.
In addition to Dale's 28 points, the Lady Warriors also got 15 each from Flint and York, and 14 from Frazier.
North Pike had a 32-25 advantage on the boards. Phenecia Taylor led the Lady Jaguars with 25 points. Lenard scored nine, while Britta Stephens and Jessica Turner both had eight.