Southeast Lauderdale hangs on in 3A tourney
By By Austin Bishop / EMG regional sports director
March 3, 2004
JACKSON For 16 minutes on Monday afternoon, Southeast Lauderdale's Stacy Tate was simply missing in action. But fortunately for the Lady Tigers, basketball games last 32.
Tate, a 5-foot-8 senior post, went to the bench with three fouls early in the first half of Southeast Lauderdale's 61-57 opening-round win over Independence in the MHSAA Class 3A Girls State Tournament at the Mississippi Coliseum, but made up for it in the second half as she dominated the game in the paint.
Tate scored all 14 of her points in the game's last two quarters and, just as importantly, caused both of Independence's inside players to get into foul trouble.
Independence's twin post combo of Ashley Jackson and Thiah Dandridge began the second half with two fouls each, but Tate began to attack the goal aggressively. Less than four minutes later, Jackson and Dandridge were both off the court and on the bench with four fouls.
She had plenty of time to think about her game while she was riding the pine in the first half with foul trouble.
Southeast, which faces No. 1-ranked Ripley in the semifinals Monday at 1 p.m., led 17-13 after one quarter of play and was up 21-15 before the Lady Kats reeled off nine unanswered points to go up 26-21.
That's when senior guard Sam Smith stepped up big for the Lady Tigers.
She knocked down a pair of three-pointers to help the Lady Tigers rally for a 29-29 tie at the half.
Smith, who led the 34-3 Lady Tigers with 22 points, is known more for driving to the basket than she is for long-range shooting.
Tate then began to take over the game, as the Lady Tigers began to work the inside and slowly wear Independence down.
Southeast Lauderdale finally took the lead at 36-35 on a basket by Smith with 2:12 left in the third quarter and never relinquished it, leading by as many as nine (55-46) before the Lady Kats made one last run.
Miller admitted that the Lady Tigers didn't play their best game of the season, but he certainly wasn't disappointed that SEL was challenged in its state tournament opener.
The Lady Tigers will certainly find that out on Monday when they tangle with 33-1 Ripley.
Donica Cosby and Latoya Thompson led 25-8 Independence with 13 points each, while Ashley Jackson scored 12 and Markico Taylor chipped in with 11.
