Kemper County zones in on win at Sam Dale

By By Ryan Satcher/staff writer
January 10, 2004
Kemper County used two large runs and a tough zone to beat Northeast 60-47 in the Sam Dale Tourney at Northeast on Friday night.
In other action, the Lady Trojans beat Kemper County 54-45; the Quitman boys beat Southeast 73-67; and the Southeast girls beat Quitman 84-50.
In tonight's action, Southeast takes on Northeast in two games, and Quitman and Kemper County square off in girls' and boys' action.
In Friday's late boys' game, Kemper County went on an 11-0 run to close out the third quarter and an 18-0 run to finish out the game as Northeast struggled to hit shots down the stretch.
The Wildcats jumped out to an early lead in the first quarter, but three pointers by Harold Grace kept the Trojans going. Grace hit two of his three outside jumpers in the final minute to give Northeast a 14-10 lead after one quarter.
Kemper County was able to stretch out to a 24-19 lead after an 8-3 run in the second quarter, but a three-point play with a minute left by cut the lead to 24-22 at half.
Northeast came out strong in the third quarter and took a 30-26 lead on a three-pointer by Grace.
After Kemper County took back the lead, Antonio Clayton hit two shots to give Northeast the lead back at 34-31.
Grace followed with a huge dunk and made the free throw after a foul on the play to give Northeast a 37-31 lead.
Kemper County answered with a very big run. Terrence Cross scored to cut the lead to four points.
Rodricus Hopson added a bucket to cut into the lead and Shardricus Thompson added two quick baskets and a buzzer-beating three pointer to cap off the 11-0 run.
Northeast answered in the opening minutes of the fourth quarter with an 8-0 run.
Maurice Langston scored five points in the run to give Northeast the lead at 45-42.
Kemper County then put the game away as Northeast struggled from outside.
Hopson led the 18-0 run with eight points and the Wildcats took the 60-47 victory.
Hopson and Thompson each scored 20 points for Kemper County in the victory. Grace led Northeast with 20 points.
Kemper County improves to 10-8 for the year with the victory.
Northeast (girls) 54
Kemper County 45
Northeast put together a couple of runs and depended on bad free-throw shooting by Kemper County to pick up a 54-45 win.
Shaquita Bell scored 27 points to lead the Lady Trojans in the victory.
Northeast held a 10-8 lead after the first quarter and stretched the lead with an 8-2 run.
The Lady Trojans closed out the second quarter with a big run and held a 30-19 lead at half.
Northeast held a 40-28 lead after three quarters and stretched the lead out to 14 points late in the fourth on two free throws by Bell.
Kemper County cut into the lead by fouling in the final two minutes but Northeast held on for the 54-45 victory.
Crystal Hopson added 16 points for Northeast to go along with Bell's 27. Lakaisha Coleman scored 11 points to lead Kemper County.
Southeast (girls) 84
Quitman 50
Lashondra Hall and the Southeast Lady Tigers came out hot and rolled past the Lady Panthers 84-50.
Hall hit five three-pointers in the first quarter on her way to 27 points and Southeast took a 25-10 lead after the first quarter.
The Lady Tigers led 53-20 after a strong second quarter and stretched the lead to 75-30 at the end of the third quarter.
Southeast went on to take the 84-50 victory with a solid fourth quarter.
Sam Smith scored 19 points to go along with Hall's 27 points. Stacy Tate and Queta Reed each added 10 points.
Kemonica McGee had 25 points for Quitman, and Danesha Williams added 10.
Southeast (boys) 73
Quitman 67
Quitman held off a strong Southeast charge in the second half to take a 73-67 victory.
Quitman trailed 18-15 at the end of the first quarter but used a good second quarter to take a 39-31 lead at half.
The Panthers held a nine-point lead at the end of the third quarter, but Southeast was able to cut into the lead in the fourth.
The Tigers got within two points late in the fourth quarter, but Quitman was able to come through with a couple of clutch baskets to hold on for the 73-67 win.
Prince Trotter scored 25 points for Quitman, and Antoinne McKenzie scored 19. Chris Gordon scored 21 points to lead Southeast.