Northeast Lauderdale's Chad Hall puts in a shot against West Lauderdale's Chris Rhoney Friday night.

    Northeast Lauderdale’s boys basketball team used a pair of strong closing pushes to down county rival West Lauderdale at home on Friday, and remain perfect in Division 5-4A in the process.

    The Trojans, ranked No. 5 in Class 4A, downed the Knights 62-46. Northeast outscored West 17-6 in the second quarter and 17-8 in the fourth.

    Antonio Temple led Northeast (19-4, 7-0) with 15 points, while A.J. Wade added 12. Brandon Moss and Chad Hall each finished with 10 for the Trojans, who visit South Jones on Tuesday.

    West, 7-10 and 3-4 in the division, was led by Chris Rhoney’s game-high 19. The Knights head to Quitman on Tuesday.

— Jamie Wachter

NE Lauderdale girls    52

West Lauderdale    40

    The Trojans snapped a two-game losing streak inside the division against rival West at home Friday.

    Northeast, which is now 11-11, 3-4 in Division 5-4A, gradually pulled away from the Knights, leading 15-11 after the first quarter and 28-20 at halftime. Brenisha Jackson led the Trojans with 17 points, while Tarmacia Mack ended with 11.

    West, which fell to 5-12 and 2-5, received a game-high 22 points from Kandice Sims.

    The Knights visit Quitman on Tuesday, while Northeast heads to South Jones.

— Jamie Wachter

Meridian boys    84

Hattiesburg    41

    Cornell signee Devin Cherry led four Wildcats in double figures with 15 Friday in a road rout of Hattiesburg and former MHS coach Ernie Watson.

    Meridian, which led 17-14 after the first quarter, outscored the Tigers 26-7 in the second.

    Lakendric Sims added 12 for the top-ranked Wildcats, who improved to 18-2 and 4-0 in Division 6-5A. Marcus Hurn finished with 11, while Mississippi State signee Rodney Hood chipped in with 10.

    Devontal Foye led Hattiesburg with 13 points, while Walter Evens added 11 for the 5-18 Tigers, who are 0-4 in the division.

    Meridian travels to Oak Grove on Tuesday.

— Jamie Wachter

Quitman    69

Laurel girls    22

    Thanks to a second-quarter blitz, the Panthers had little trouble with host Laurel on Friday. Leading 16-10 heading into the period, Quitman outscored the Golden Tornadoes 31-3 in the stanza. The Panthers then added a 16-0 third quarter to it.

    “(A’Teyuna) Doby hit some 3s and we just got on a roll,” Quitman coach Mike Coleman said. “We played some pretty good defense.

    “I think we shot like 90 percent that quarter.”

    Doby led the Panthers (20-2 and 6-1 in Division 5-4A) with 12 points, while Dajah McCarty added 10.

    The Panthers host West Lauderdale on Tuesday before a showdown with undefeated South Jones at home next Friday.

— Jamie Wachter

Laurel boys    61

Quitman    42

    The host Tornadoes jumped on Quitman early Friday, outscoring the Panthers 21-8 in the first quarter. Laurel built the lead to 48-23 heading into the fourth.

    Boda Turner led Quitman (4-15, 0-7 in Division 5-4A) with 12 points.

    Laurel was paced by Allen Sentimore’s 13 points. The Tornadoes (8-7, 4-3) also received 10 points each from Desmond Bridges and Deshon Bayless.

    The Panthers host West Lauderdale on Tuesday.

— Jamie Wachter

Newton County    72

Mendenhall girls    61

    Emily Smith got the Cougars started on the right foot at home Friday, scoring 16 of her team-leading 24 points in the first quarter. Behind Smith’s exploits, Newton County led 19-16 after the first period and pushed the lead to 37-28 at halftime.

    Reneisha Evans added 18, while Sheronda Jim finished with 17 for the Cougars, who improved to 12-7 and 5-2 in Division 6-4A.

    Mendenhall, which fell to 6-11 and 2-5, had a game-high 26 points from Josalyn Sullivan. Tazmyeka Norwood chipped in 18.

    Newton County hosts Florence on Tuesday.

— Jamie Wachter

Newton County    55

Mendenhall boys    50

    Rekenyae Cole led three Cougars in double figures Friday night at home with 18 points.

    Aaron Jones added 14 and Joseph Wansley finished with 12 as Newton County outscored Mendenhall by two in the first quarter, three in the second and three in the third.

    Mendenhall (10-7 and 4-3 in Division 6-4A) was led by Jared Tillman’s 17 points and A.J. Williams’ 12.

    The Cougars (11-7, 4-3) host Florence on Tuesday.

— Jamie Wachter

PREP SOCCER

NE Lauderdale    5

Quitman boys    1

    The Trojans wrapped up their season in winning fashion Friday night behind 10 saves from keeper Stephen Davis.

    Caleb Cook and Johnny Huntley each scored two goals to lead Northeast’s offensive attack. Jesse Lang added a lone goal.

– Jamie Wachter