DECATUR — Northeast Lauderdale’s Lady Trojans evened their record at 3-3 with a 41-point rout of West Lauderdale in the East Central Classic on Monday at East Central Community College.

Northeast held West scoreless until the final six seconds of the first quarter and carried a 28-9 lead into halftime in winning 63-22.

The Lady Trojans outscored West 30-9 in the third quarter to up their lead to 58-18.

“It’s a big win for us,” said Northeast head coach Fred Liddell. “Coming off a couple losses, we were just trying to get ourself back together. It was a good convincing win for my young ladies.”

Sammone Lewis hit four 3-point baskets in leading Northeast with 14 points.

“Actually, she had been struggling shooting the basketball,” Liddell said. “I’m proud to see her get going. Maybe that can build some confidence for her.”

Northeast also got 12 points from Norianna Haynes, nine from Ceara McCoy, and eight from Jennifer Roberts.

West (1-4) got five points from Tambria Davis and four from Roslyn Warren.

Northeast returns to action Friday against the Newton-Southeast Lauderdale winner in one semifinal.

In today’s games, Forest and Thomastown square off at 4 p.m. with Lake facing Newton County at 6:30 p.m.

Newton 60

Morton 56

Newton outscored Morton 43-27 in the second half to win Monday’s other contest.

Morton, which is led by former Philadelphia and Neshoba Central boys’ coach Bobby Richardson, jumped out to an 18-4 lead in the first quarter and carried a 29-17 advantage into halftime behind 12 points from Alexia Gammage and nine from Ty Pinkston.

Newton used a 23-13 advantage in the third quarter to enter the fourth quarter down only 42-40.

Tawonna Patrick canned one of her five 3-point baskets with three minutes remaining to put the Lady Tigers up for good at 52-50.

Patrick, who led Newton with 22 points, was 4-of-4 at the free-throw line over the final 37 seconds to fend off any comeback bid by Morton. In addition to her five treys, Patrick was 7-of-7 at the free-throw line.

Newton also got 13 points from Ashley Hardy and nine each from Shakara Edwards and Ashtin McNichols.

Gammage led Morton (3-3) with 26 points. Pinkston had 14.