MERIDIAN —      Most teams celebrate homecominig during football season. Not at Meridian Community College. The Eagles held Homecoming festivities Saturday as the Eagles entertained Delgado Community College in Miss-Lou Conference action. The Eagle women were looking to increase their lead in the conference while the men were looking to create a bigger logjam at the top of the conference.

    In the girls game, it was a battle of one versus two as Meridian and Delgado squared off. Gelese Lampton scored 20 points as the Eagle women defeated the Dolphins 81-71.  Eagles coach Hillary Allen said the win was badly needed.

    "We were first place. They were second place so it was a big game for us," Allen said. "Fortunately, we were able to pull out the win today."

    At first, it didnt look like MCC was ready to play. the Eagles missed 11 of their first 12 shots and found themselves down early. Allen said the shots were the same the team had been taking all year long. They weren't going down however,

    "We fell behind early, 8-2, and missed a lot of shots," the coach said. "Our style is full court hustle. We're going to miss some that we should make. Hopefully, we'll make more than miss."

    The Eagles got their act together and finished the half shooting 35 percent from the floor. However, the team was 16-46 from the field in the first half. A big part of the resurgence midway through the first half was the inside play of Arnessa Galloway and Chasity Kearney. The duo dominated the inside. The Eagles our rebounded the Dolphins 20-13 in teh first half and 50 to 31 overall.

    "That wouldn't surprise me," Allen said. "That's a credit to Arnessa Galloway and Chasity and some of the others who play inside and go after every rebound and every loose ball."

    Riding the back of the frontcourt players, MCC raced out to a 40-25 lead at the half. Delgado coach Edward Fields said the numbers game got to his team.

    "We play with seven kids," Fields said. "We had one get sick right before the game. We didnt have enough bodies tonight."

    In the second half, history was made. On a jump shot with 19:25 left in the game, Norianna Haynes became just the seventh Lady Eagle to go over 1,000 points in her career. Just two possissions later, Kearney became the eighth to go over 1,000 points. Haynes scored 17 points before foulind out of the game while Kearney finished the game with 11 points.

    "It's really special," Allen said. "Norianna and Chasity come to play every ballgame. They are in that same category with teh Monique Horners, the Tiara Parkers and other kids I've had to break that 1,000 point mark. waht it tells me that I've got kids that are willing to work, go up and down the court and hustle. They are going to score a lot of points in this system."

    Meridian shot 37 percent from the floor for the game (31-83) and were also 8-23 from behind the three-point line. Delgado ended the game at 37 percent from the field, however, were just 2 for 14 from the three-point line. Claudia Tasker led the Dolphins with 19 points. Kayla Jackson scored 14 and Ciara Augillard scored 12 to pace Delgado. Fields said teh lack of bodies and turnovers doomed his team. The Dolphins turned the ball over 29 times in the game.

    "They speeded us up more than we'd like to be," Fields said. "We turned it over and over and over and didn't take care of the basketball.

    "Meridian picked us up full court all game," Fields continued. "We were going against their press. It wears on you and takes a toll on you."

    



Meridian 80

Delgado 74



    Trent Tucker scored 22 points as Coach Nathan Courtney's Eagles got a huge Miss-Lou Conference win over Delgado. Tucker was one of four Eagles to score in double figures. Joining him were T. J. Jones (19), Gio Smith (15) and Prince Williams (13).

    "We needed this win," Courtney said. "My guys are starting to get it. They play hard. I've got a really good group of guys. Give Delgado credit, they changed up defenses and made it tough for us tonight."

    Meridian started the off strong. Leading 6-2, MCC was called for an intentional foul resulting in a four point swing and tying the game up. Then Richard Bienvenu got hot. The Dolphin sophomore scored 18 points in the first half including five three point baskets as Delgado led by as many as nine in the first half.

    "He was on fire in teh first half, had 18 points in the first half," Delgado coach tommy Smith said. "Second half, they adjusted and shut him down. They played good defense on him."

    Meridian would not be denied as Tucker hit three three-pointers in the half to keep MCC close.

    "Trent can make shots and he's a talker out there," Courtney said. "He's not afraid to shoot."

    MCC led 43-37 at the half, however Courtney said the team could have done better.

    "I told our guys 'You scored 43 points in the half but you gave up 37. We've got to do a better job.'"

    And that they did.

    A putback dunk by Jones gave the Eagles a 19-point lead at 61-42 with 15 minutes left in teh game. That's when the Dolphins made their move.

    "At the 14-minute mark, we were down 14. I said let's go," Smith said. "At the 7-minute mark, we were down seven, i said 'Let's go.'"

    The Dolphins took the lead 72-21 with 1:45 left in the game. It was the last time Delgado led in the contest. MCC clamped down on defense and outscored DCC 9-2 down the stretch for the win. Courtney said the sky's the limit for his Eagle club.

    "I think we can go all the way. I show them everyday the records and I tell them what it's going to take to get into the Region 23 Tournament," Courtney said. "We are 3-2 in the conference. We're just a game behind Shreveport for first place. I tell them the sky's the limit and they feed off of that.

    "Our roughest trips are behind us. We get Shreveport and Delgado on a neutral floor and play Baton Rouge three more times. If we go 4-2 in our last 6 region games, that's it. We then go to 9-9 in the Region. That will be good enough to get us into the tournament."

    The Eagles return to action Monday when they take the 30-minuted drive north to Scooba to take on East Mississippi. Courtney said the game is huge in terms of momentum, however, it's a game that's not going to keep them out ot the Region 23 Tournament.

    "I dont want to overhype that game becasue I'm more interested in winning this conference," he said. "I hope we win and it'd be nice to keep this thing rolling. They're a good team and they are rolling too. We need to view it as just another game. EMCC is not stopping us from making the playoffs. "

    Courtney added that the schedule is favorable for Meridian to win the Miss-Lou Conference.

     "We'll be alright," Courntey said with a smile on his face. "We have to get one more on the road and hold serve on the neutral floors and we can win this league. I can't believe it. I'm so excited."