The Meridian boys basketball team took out its frustration from back-to-back losses with a 98-57 rout of host Hattiesburg on Friday night.

After falling to Dallas Lincoln on Monday and losing at Brandon on Tuesday, the top-ranked Wildcats ripped the Tigers for 25 points in the first quarter and tacked on 36 in the second to open up a 61-29 halftime lead Friday night.

Rodney Hood led Meridian (23-3) with 27 points, while Deshun Carter added 12.

The Wildcats return home Friday when they host Hattiesburg.

— Jamie Wachter



Northeast girls 50

West Jones 45



A huge third quarter sparked the Lady Trojans past the visiting Lady Mustangs on Friday night.

West Jones led 26-23 at the half before Northeast erupted for an 18-point third quarter to grab a 41-35 lead.

The Lady Trojans (15-5, 8-1 in division) were led by Norianna Haynes’ 22 points. Jennifer Roberts added 9.

Northeast visits South Jones on Tuesday.

— Jamie Wachter



Southeast 66

Raleigh boys 65



The Tigers stormed back late Friday to edge the Lions at home.

Raleigh used a 24-point third quarter to grab a 49-44 lead before Southeast outscored the Lions 22-16 in the fourth quarter.

Ed Ruffin led Southeast with 21 points. Harold Clark and Patrick Tate added 11 points each.

The Tigers host Carthage on Monday.

— Jamie Wachter



Southeast 66

Raleigh girls 29



Southeast blitzed the visiting Lady Lions early Friday night, scoring 20 points in each of the first two quarters.

Behind Brittney Roberts’ 19 points and nine assists, the Lady Tigers raced out to a 40-11 lead at the half and upped its lead to 53-17 after three quarters.

Pashen Thompson added 13 points and 18 rebounds, while April Durden scored 12 points and hauled in 14 rebounds for Southeast (20-2).

The Lady Tigers host Carthage on Monday.

— Jamie Wachter



Newton 78

Union boys 62



The Tigers broke open a close game late on the road Friday.

Leading 53-46 heading into the fourth quarter, Newton outscored the host Yellowjackets 25-16 in the decisive period.

Rashad Robinson led the Tigers (17-5) with 25 points, while Keondre Hodges added 18 and Brandon Williams chipped in 14.

Union was paced by Kenneth Harris’ 14. Shunadrick Landfair scored 13 for the Yellowjackets and Roderick Hawkins added 12.

Newton travels to Kemper County today, while Union visits Philadelphia on Friday.

— Jamie Wachter



Newton 52

Union girls 28



The Newton girls grounded Union early Friday night, racing out to a double-digit lead in the first quarter.

Staked to an 18-8 advantage after the first, the Lady Tigers increased their lead to 36-13 at halftime behind 16 points from Tramehia Walker and 12 points from Tawanna Patrick.

Yancey Tillman led the Lady Yellowjackets with 8 points.

Newton, which improved to 13-10, visits Kemper County today. Union next plays at Philadelphia on Friday.

— Jamie Wachter



Kemper County 63

Lake boys 40



The Wildcats jumped all over the visiting Hornets early Friday, leading 19-6 after the first quarter.

Staked to the early lead, Kemper County (14-7) increased its advantage to 38-17 at halftime behind 14 points from Steven Fuller and 11 points from Devonta Pollard.

Lake was led by Emmanuel Donald’s 15 points.

The Wildcats host Newton today, while the Hornets (7-14) host Scott Central on Tuesday.

— Jamie Wachter



Lake girls 67

Kemper County 62



The Lake girls rallied back from a third-quarter deficit to force overtime at Kemper County on Friday night and then the Lady Hornets controlled the second extra session.

After the Lady Wildcats grabbed a 35-32 lead heading into the fourth quarter, Lake knotted the game at 48 after regulation. The two teams remained tied at 58 after the first overtime, before the Lady Hornets (14-7) outscored Kemper 9-4 in the second overtime.

Lake was led by Krista Donald’s 23 points.

Kemper, which fell to 15-6, received 19 points from Chadisty Hickman, 17 points from Alondra Jefferson and 10 points from Jadreyan Lockett.

Lake hosts Scott Central on Tuesday, while Kemper County hosts Newton today.

— Jamie Wachter



Wayne County 78

Quitman boys 75



Wayne County took control in the second quarter Friday night against visiting Quitman. However, after it took the War Eagles an extra period to down the Panthers following a strong finish.

The War Eagles led 35-32 at halftime following a 20-point second quarter. But, Quitman responded by outscoring Wayne 12-11 in the third quarter and 21-19 in the fourth to knot the game at 65. The War Eagles, though, responded in overtime to improve to 16-2, 8-1 in the division.

Jamal Taylor led Wayne County’s win with 32 points, while Donta Pittman added 14.

The Panthers (14-6, 5-3) were led by Jeremy Dear’s 19 points. Phylandus Powe added 18 and Kegan Houston scored 13.

Quitman and Wayne County both play in the Rotary Classic today.

— Jamie Wachter



Quitman girls 61

Wayne County 52



The Lady Panthers used a strong start to hold off host Wayne County on Friday.

Quitman jumped out to an 18-11 lead after the first quarter and increased its lead to 33-22 at halftime before the Lady War Eagles rallied. Wayne County pulled with 45-35 after the third.

Relanda McFarland led four Lady Panthers in double figures with 12 points. Elyssa McKenzie added 11 points and Denisha McCarty and Alesha Bonner scored 10 each.

Wayne County was led by Tierra Frost’s 16 points.

The Lady Panthers (9-10, 4-4 in the division) visit West Lauderdale on Tuesday, while Wayne County plays in the Rotary Classic today.

— Jamie Wachter



PREP SOCCER

Meridian girls 2

Hattiesburg 0



For the second time in two days, the Meridian girls soccer team blanked Hattiesburg on Friday, getting five saves from Aretha Raiwe.

Nichola Crenshaw gave the Lady Wildcats a 1-0 lead with 34:30 remaining in the first half on a Meme Huff assist. Huff scored Meridian’s other goal on a Chelsea Byrd assist.

The Wildcats end the year 10-7.

— Jamie Wachter



West boys 5

Neshoba Central 1



Chase Sonak pushed the Knights to a lead Friday night with two goals in the opening half.

After intermission, Sonak continued to drive West’s attack by assisting on a pair of Tyler Germany goals. The Knights’ other goal came on a Neshoba own goal.

West, which visits Pontotoc in the playoffs Tuesday, received seven saves from keeper Michael McGee in improving to 11-3-1.

— Jamie Wachter





West girls 4

Neshoba Central 0



In a battle for the division crown Friday night, the Lady Knights blanked the Lady Rockets for their seventh straight division title.

In the first half, Kelsie Murren scored off an assist from Kayte Ford. Tori Taylor then added a goal off a corner kick from Ashlyn Pope to give West a 2-0 halftime lead.

Meagan Stewart scored in the second half off another assist from Ford and Kaylyn Stewart added the fourth goal with another Ford assist. Erika Joyner recorded six saves in goal for the shutout.

The Lady Knights will host the first round of the playoffs Tuesday against an undetermined opponent.

— Jamie Wachter



Lamar boys 9

Parklane 0



Tripp Sims led a scoring outburst for the Raiders at home Friday night, netting a hat trick.

Lamar, which improved to 10-1, also received two goals from Jamie Thompson and Cameron Melancon and lone goals from Andy Wake and Eli Wilkerson.

The Raiders, who host Jackson Prep on Monday, got the shutout from keepers Tyler Roberts and Steven Stewart.

— Jamie Wachter



LATE PREP SOCCER

Clarkdale girls 2

Southeast Lauderdale 0



Facing the possibility of missing the playoffs, the Clarkdale Lady Bulldogs responded with a shutout of cross-county rival Southeast Lauderdale.

CHS, which improved to 10-6 and 4-3 in the division, needed the win to advance to the postseason.

Chae Godwin and Sarah Beckman each found the back of the net in Thursday’s contest. Kayla Phillips recorded one assist.

Amber Spann had three saves for the Lady Bulldogs, who ended their regular season with the win.

— Chris Brennaman



Clarkdale boys 6

Southeast Lauderdale 3



Micah Redmond tallied a hat trick as the Bulldogs doubled-up Southeast.

The freshman also assisted on two other goals.

Chris Heyman, Mason Tabb and Dillon Boatner scored the other goals for Clarkdale, while Boatner (2) and Tabb (1) had assists.

Matt Taylor recorded two saves in goal for CHS, which improved to 13-3 and 6-1 in the division.

Daniel Shin, Chase Pearson and Dexter Hubbard scored for Southeast (5-8-1).

— Chris Brennaman