Experienced Lions look for extended playoff trip

Sports

Discussion

October 31, 2009

By Jamie Wachter / executive sports editor The Meridian Star Sat Oct 31, 2009, 12:17 AM CDT

While East Mississippi Community College’s playoff stay was short-lived last year, the Lions are counting on that experience to lead to an extended trip this year.

The Lions, who lost 42-35 to Pearl River in the first round of the MACJC state playoffs, last season, open the postseason at home today against Jones County Junior College. Kickoff is at 2 p.m. at Sullivan-Windham Field.

“Absolutely,” EMCC coach Buddy Stephens said about last year’s playoff berth being a bonus for the Lions. “We’ll go in a lot different than we did last year. We understand the speed of the game, the level of competition won’t surprise us.”

Also not a surprise will be an improved Bobcats team than the one EMCC downed 28-17 during the second week of the season. Since then, Jones County won six straight before falling 20-17 in a South Division title game against defending state champ Mississippi Gulf Coast last week.

“They’re good and we knew that coming in,” Stephens said. “They are a very good football team.

“They’ve gotten better as the season has gone on. They’ve moved guys around, defensively, and are playing as well as anybody in the league.”

JCJC has allowed the fewest points in the MACJC, as opponents have averaged just 16.44 points per game. The Bobcats also are among the top defensive units in total and rushing defense, allowing 268.2 yards overall and just 98.2 on the ground.

EMCC, meanwhile, counters with an explosive offense that finished second in the state in scoring — 36 points per game. The Lions also led the state with 478.3 yards of total offense — 189.9 rushing (second) and 288.4 passing (second).

Text Only

Sports

Clarkdale serves notice in rout of Enterprise
The Clarkdale girls’ basketball team served notice that it belonged among the top teams in MHSAA Class 2A with a 59-56 division win at defending 2A state champion Scott Central on January 31.

February 8, 2012
Northeast Lauderdale stuns, upsets Northeast Jones in opening round.
Shaquanta McDonald and Tarmecia Mack each scored 10 points as The Trojans beat the Tigers 42-28 in the opening round of the District 5-4A District Tournament held at West Lauderdale Tuesday. Brittany Williams added nine points for Northeast Lauderdale (5-21).

February 8, 2012
Season Ender
The defense was there, but the offense never came around and Meridian High saw its playoff hopes disappear as Oak Grove pulled away in the final minutes to knock off the host Wildcats 58-48 on Tuesday night in the Region 5-6A Tournament.

February 8, 2012
Kemper County wins thriller over Heidelberg
In a division with traditional powerhouses Choctaw Central, Southeast Lauderdale and Newton – the fourth-and-fifth-seeded Kemper County and Heidelberg girls both were hoping to just punch their ticket to the Class 3A state playoffs and hope to hit a hot streak.
Part one of that equation was successful for Kemper County Tuesday night, but it was far from easy.

February 8, 2012
New-look Lions set to open 2012 softball season
Coming off the most successful season of fast-pitch softball competition in the program’s history, the East Mississippi Community College Lions are set to open their 2012 softball campaign by playing host to Marion Military Institute Tuesday afternoon on the Scooba campus. First pitch for the season-opening doubleheader is set for 1 p.m.

February 7, 2012
Yellowjackets survive Hornets, keep season alive
Rarely does a team commit 46 turnovers and not get run out of the gym, but the Union girls overcame their ballhandling woes to knock off Lake 41-38 in overtime of the MHSAA Division 6-2A Tournament Monday night.

February 7, 2012 4 Photos
Roundup — MCC baseball splits pair at tourney

The Meridian Community College Eagles salvaged a split of its final games in the 2012 T.J. Fleming Invitational at Lurleen B. Wallace Community College on Sunday.

February 6, 2012
Crusaders use experience, speed to topple Tornadoes
Philadelphia and Sacred Heart both entered Friday's Class 1A/2A/3A soccer state championship game looking for their first state crown.
The Crusaders, though, had finished as runners-up the previous two seasons, and used that experience and their speed to their advantage as they scored three first half goals in route to a 3-1 win.

February 4, 2012 4 Photos
Roundup — West girls rally past Louisville
The West Lauderdale girls basketball team overcame an early deficit to top visiting Louisville 60-56 to close out the regular season Friday.

February 4, 2012
Dreams Dashed
    A real life David vs. Goliath meeting took place in the Class 1A/2A/3A girls state championship soccer game Friday afternoon at Clinton High School's Arrow Field.
   Having never advanced farther than the second round of the MSHSAA soccer playoffs, Clarkdale entered looking to shock the state and win its first state title. In th way stood Our Lady Academy, a nine-time state champion from Bay St. Louis.
   The Crescents blanked the Bulldogs 5-0 for their third straight title and 10th since 2000.

February 4, 2012 6 Photos
More Sports Headlines

Sports

Search Results

Discussion

Experienced Lions look for extended playoff trip

Site Map

Contact Us