Lady Warriors claim Region 23 hoops title
By By Marty Stamper / EMG sports assistant
March 5, 2004
CLINTON It wasn't their most impressive win and definitely not the prettiest of their 29 conquests this season, but Thursday's 52-45 victory over Copiah-Lincoln was definitely the one the East Central Lady Warriors have been looking forward to.
The seven-point win at Mississippi College's A.E. Wood Coliseum clinched the Region 23 championship and a berth in the NJCAA Women's Division I national championship tournament, March 16-20 at Salina, Kan. The bracket will be drawn up Wednesday following play in the other regionals. Sixteen teams advance to the national
tournament.
ECCC improved to 29-2 and extended its winning streak to 22.
"We did what we had to do to win," ECCC head coach Brad Hodge said. "(Co-Lin coach) Gwyn Young and the Lady Wolves did what they had to do to give themselves a chance. They controlled the tempo of the game, and we couldn't ever make shots to get into some full-court pressure.
"It was an excellent game plan on their part, but fortunately our defense was able to survive. The games we've lost were in the 50s."
ECCC struggled on the offensive end for nearly six minutes to start the game, having only a Kimyatta Viverette free throw to show for their efforts.
The good news was that Co-Lin held only an 8-1 advantage.
Lenore Gray got ECCC's first basket on a put-back with 14:14 left in the half. After Co-Lin went up 10-3 on a basket by Travalyn Smith, the Lady Warriors reeled off 12 unanswered points to grab a lead they would not relinquish.
Kim Cox had a basket and two free throws during the run, with Britney Burks' baseline jumper putting ECCC up for good at 11-10 with 8:42 to go in the half. After a layup by Rita Birden, Burks scored on another baseline jumper for a 15-10 lead.
"She was invisible in January and February, but she did some good things the last couple of games that have helped us a lot," Hodge said of the sophomore from Scott Central.
"The five sophomores that sit on the bench are the ones that have really made the difference. A couple of them played a lot last year and are not playing much this year. They never complained and they deserve the credit for holding us together. We've got great chemistry and I have to tip my hat to those five sophomores."
In addition to Burks, others in that quintet are Ebone'e Leverette, Monique Overstreet, Hope Murray and Miranda Rosar.
ECCC took a 30-21 lead into halftime.
The Lady Warriors grabbed their biggest lead of the game at 38-28 with 12:31 remaining on a put-back by Kotreece Bender.
Co-Lin got to within 41-37 with seven minutes left on back-to-back baskets by Gloria Lewis.
A three-pointer from the top of the key by Overstreet and a double-pump layup from Kristin Chaney extended ECCC's lead to 46-37 with 4:40 to go. Co-Lin battled back to within 46-42 on a pair of free throws from Renee Fields with 2:01 left, but a basket by Birden and two free throws each from Chaney and Bender over the final 1:14 clinched the region crown.
ECCC got 14 points from Chaney; seven points, 11 rebounds and two steals from Gray; seven points and seven rebounds from Bender; six points and seven rebounds from Birden; six points and two blocks from Cox; eight rebounds, two assists and two blocks from Viverette; and four points from Burks.
Co-Lin, 19-10, got 14 points from Fields, 12 from Smith and 10 from Lewis.
