Trojans upset Mendenhall
By By Carver Rayburn / staff writer
Feb. 14, 2003
Dekenno Winston hit a three-pointer with 38 seconds remaining to give Northeast Lauderdale an 81-78 lead and an eventual win in overtime against No. 4-ranked Mendenhall in Division 5-4A semifinal tournament action on Thursday.
With the win, the Trojans are guaranteed a spot in the south state tournament next week. Mendenhall ends it season at 26-3 because they failed to make it to the finals in their division tournament.
Northeast head coach Lewis Lightsey said he was proud of the Trojans accomplishment.
Northeast was an impressive 31 of 38 from the charity stripe. Mendenhall was two of five. Tiger head coach Ken Barron was upset that his team was not awarded as many free throw attempts.
In the first half, the Trojans were all over the boards but squandered opportunities to get second chance points. The Trojans out rebounded Mendenhall 11-3 in the first quarter.
The Trojans took a 15-13 lead into the second quarter. Mendenhall outscored the Trojans 14-2 in the first 4 minutes of the second quarter to take a 27-17 lead. After a Northeast timeout at the 3:25 mark, Dekenno Winston and the Trojan defense forced turnovers and clawed their way back into the game at 34-27 at the break.
The Trojans made their first major push of the ball game in the third quarter. Northeast forced three straight Tiger turnovers and turned them into an 8-0 Trojan run to take the lead at 41-38. After a three-pointer was waived off by the officials because of an inadvertent whistle, the score was 51-47 in favor of Mendenhall.
Dekenno Winston hit two free throws with 2:26 remaining in the game to give Northeast a 68-62 lead. Mendenhall came back and took the lead back at 69-68 with 23 seconds remaining, but Marcus Betts hit one of two free throws to tie the game up and send it into overtime.
In the extra period, it was big perimeter shooting from Winston that sealed the upset. Winston finished with a game high 33 points. Kalani White had 18 and Marcus Betts added a double-double with 14 points and 10 rebounds.
Northeast girls 58
Mendenhall 36
The Lady Trojans made it an all Northeast final tomorrow by breezing by the Lady Tigers in girls hoop action.
The Lady Trojans forced early turnovers to get up on Mendenhall and never looked back. Quinn Jackson lead Northeast with 34 points and was complimented by Shaquita Bell with 11 points.
The Lady Trojans turned on the defensive pressure in the third quarter and only allowed Mendenhall to score four points, leading to the eventual win.
Northeast will host and participate in both the boys and girls division 5-4A tournament finals tomorrow beginning at 6 p.m.
Quitman boys 46
Magee 41
Quitman advanced to the division finals setting up a rematch from last year with Northeast Lauderdale.
The Panthers downed Magee 46-41 to make the tournament final. Roderick Laphand had 12 points and Lonnie Magee had 11.
