Hopson free throw lifts Lady Trojans

By By Ryan Satcher / staff writer
Jan. 22, 2003
Crystal Hopson hit a free throw with 14 seconds left to play and the Lady Trojans of Northeast Lauderdale held on to take a 66-65 victory over Bay Springs on Tuesday night.
The Northeast boys completed the sweep of the visitors with a 71-52 win in the boys' game.
In the girls' game, Northeast led by 11 points with 1:31 left to play, but the Lady Bulldogs came back to tie the game. Hopson then hit the free throw and the Lady Trojans slipped by Bay Springs to move to 13-7 on the year.
Northeast jumped out to an 8-0 lead to start the game, but Bay Springs, led by six points by Quaya Payton, tied the game 8-8 with 2:52 left to play in the quarter. Northeast a basket from Quinn Jackson and Shaquita Bell in the final 21 seconds of the quarter to take an 18-16 lead after the first.
The two teams played pretty even basketball throughout the second quarter and the Lady Bulldogs took a 34-32 lead into halftime.
Bay Springs was able to stretch the lead out to six points in the first four minutes of the third quarter, but Northeast outscored the Lady Bulldogs 12-2 in the final minutes of the third. Sheree Needom hit a three-pointer at the buzzer to give the Lady Trojans a 48-44 lead at the end of the quarter.
The Lady Trojans stretched the lead out to as many as 11 and led 65-54 with 1:31 left to play.
Bay Springs heated up in the final minutes and Northeast began to turn the ball over. After two free throws by Payton for Bay Springs, Brittany Martin added a three-pointer to make the score 65-59.
Leatrice Ulmer hit a three-pointer with 42 seconds left to cut the Northeast lead down to three points. After a turnover, Martin hit another three-pointer to tie the game.
Hopson was fouled as she carried the ball down the floor and hit the front of a one-and-one. Bay Springs came back down the court and had a great look at the basket, but couldn't knock down the layup and the Lady Trojans held on for the win.
Jackson led Northeast with 26 points on the night. Hopson and Bell finished with 12 points each in the win. Kristi Martin led Bay Springs with 15 points and Ulmer added in 13.
Northeast boys 71
Bay Springs 52
Northeast played well in spurts and was able to take a 71-52 victory over the Bulldogs on Tuesday night.
Bay Springs was able to stay in the ballgame for most of the night, but in the end the Trojans were too strong for the visiting Bulldogs.
Northeast jumped out to a 8-2 run in the first three minutes of the game and, after a three-pointer from Kenley Farrell of Bay Springs, the Trojans went on a 12-5 run to close out the first quarter and take a 20-10 lead.
The Trojans led by 12 points with 4:17 left to play, but the Bulldogs went on a 10-4 run to cut the lead down to 33-27 at halftime.
After Farrell hit another three-pointer to start the half, the Trojans went on an 8-0 run led by Kalani White and Marcus Betts. Northeast held on for a 51-41 lead at the end of the third quarter.
Bay Springs had some chances to cut into the lead and got the lead down to nine points on another Farrell three, but Northeast closed out the game on a 12-2 run to take the 71-52 victory.
Northeast moves to 12-10 on the year with the win. White finished with 17 points to lead the Trojans. De'Kenno Winston had 14 points and Betts added 13. Farrell led Bay Springs with 15 points.