MERIDIAN —
Before this season, it had been eight years since Southeast Lauderdale had beaten rival Kemper County. Now it seems like the Tigers just can’t lose against the Wildcats.
Tuesday, Southeast Lauderdale took down defending state champion Kemper County for the fourth time this season, beating them 40-34 in the first round of the District 5-3A tournament.
“Last year, we lost to them by three in overtime in the district tournament,” Southeast head coach Centel Truman said. “That gave us hope for this year’s team. This year, we have built off that, and we have found a way to get loose balls and make shots at the end.”
Two of those key shots came from junior LaDerek Armstrong. With his team clinging to a 31-29 lead in the fourth quarter, Armstrong drained a 3-point shot in the corner to give the Tigers a 34-29 lead. Moments later, Armstrong hit another 3 at the top of the arc to put give Southeast commanding 37-29 lead.
“It was amazing last year, he was in the game and he missed those shots,” Truman said. “This year, he has enough fortitude that he can make those shots. There is a lot that comes with confidence, and I’m so glad the team has that confidence now in themselves.”
The Tigers will now move on to the second round of the district tournament where they will face Choctaw Central at 5:30 p.m. Thursday. Although the two teams split games this season, both losing at home, Truman said he is glad for the opportunity to play for a berth to the district championship game in front of his home-crowd fans.
“It’s very big, especially for this program,” Truman said of the Tiger faithful. “Before I got here, I saw film at the end of some girls games where there was only seven people here. For the community to really get behind this team like they did tonight, I thank God for the energy they bring to the kids.”
Newton 75
Philadelphia 49
For the Newton High School boys basketball team, the goal was simple –– beat Philadelphia and advance to the state playoffs.
Tuesday night, the Tigers accomplished that goal, taking down the Tornadoes and advancing to the Division 5-3A tournament semifinal round were they will meet Heidelberg 8:30 p.m. Thursday at Southeast Lauderdale High School.
“It was huge for us, because we didn’t make it last year, and we wanted to go further than that this year,” Newton head coach Robert Byrd said. “This kind of gives the seniors something to be proud of. They just wanted to go one game further than they did last year. Now, anything we get above that is gravy.”
The Tigers were led by seniors Demetrius Edwards (15 points) and Keodrick Hillie (14 points) on the night. Southeast led was in control early and would only continue to increase their lead as the game went on. A main reason for Newton’s success was its ability to tire Philly, pressing the Tornadoes on defense the whole night. After taking a 57-41 lead into the fourth quarter, the Tigers easily put away Philly in the fourth, outscoring them 18-8 to secure the win.
“We tried to man them up all over the floor,” Byrd said. “Usually that pays off in the fourth quarter, and that was the case tonight. I just think they ran out of gas.”
Sports
SEL boys oust defending state champs
- Sports
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(PHOTOS) Enterprise in the Class 2A State Championship
Slideshow of Enterprise in the Class 2A State Championship fast pitch series.
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(PHOTOS) Newton County wins Class 4A
Slideshow of Newton County in the Class 4A State Championship fast pitch series.
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(PHOTOS) Neshoba wins Class 5A
Slideshow of Neshoba Central in the Class 5A State Championship fast pitch series.
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Newton County beats Houston 10-0 to claim 7th fast-pitch championshi
Players from Newton County’s dugout barely made it to the foul line before a celebratory dogpile ensued here Saturday. Indeed, winning never gets old.
The Lady Cougars blanked Houston 10-0 Saturday at Freedom Ridge Park, completing an easy sweep of their best-of-three, Class 4A State Championship Series and gaining a measure of revenge after falling short a year ago. -
Rockets roar by East Central, claim 5A crown
Trae Embry took somewhat of a gamble when he accepted the softball
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new opportunity. - Newton County wins state
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Enterprise falls twice to East Webster
It just wasn't to be.
After 16 innings of big plays and tense moments, the Enterprise Lady Bulldogs fell just short of their third MHSAA Class 2A State Fast-Pitch Softball Championship on Saturday, dropping a 3-1 decision in the decisive game three. But EHS head coach Davey Dewitt said he was pleased with the way his team played, battling East Webster to the last out. -
Richmond leaves Clarkdale for Neshoba Central
Former Clarkdale High School head football coach Chris Richmond is leaving the team to serve as a position coach at Neshoba Central next season. Richmond, who went 1-21 in his two seasons as the Bulldogs head coach said the move to Neshoba will help him stay closer to his family
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Neshoba Central shuts out East Central 8-0
Neshoba Central’s last two rounds of the state softball playoffs involved grueling series wins over Lake Cormorant and New Hope. And while no one knows what today holds in the Class 5A State Championship Series, the Lady Rockets zipped through East Central like a hot knife through butter in Ridgeland Friday night.
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Enterprise tops East Webster 6-3
Just one more win.
That's how far away the Enterprise Lady Bulldogs are from closing out an amazing season. After beginning the year 4-8, EHS has won 15 of their last 19 games, including Friday afternoon's 6-3 win over East Webster in the MHSAA Class 2A Fast-Pitch Softball Championships. - More Sports Headlines
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