Lady Indians defeat Jones to advance to MACJC Finals
Lee Adams/LetsGoICC.com
FULTON, MS - Itawmaba Community College women's basketball squad overcame a sluggish offensive start to defeat Jones County Junior College 58-48 in the MACJC State Tournament Semifinals and advance to the state championship game on Thursday.
The Lady Indians (20-5) shot 25 percent from the floor in the first half against the familiar opponent Jones, who they split with in the regular season, to hold a 29-19 lead at halftime.
Jones County would pull within six, 38-32, by the end of the third quarter, but back-to-back jumpers by Marlee Hatcher (Pontotoc) and Erika Toney (Horn Lake) gave the top seeded Lady Indians their biggest lead of the night at 52-37 with just under three minutes left in the contest.
The Lady Indian defense stepped up for the second night in the row has they forced the Lady Bobcats (19-6) to shot 32 percent from the floor and win the rebound battle 58-48.
In the closing minutes of the contest the Lady Bobcats tried to start a rally, but the Lady Indians were able to hold off the charge and pick up the 58-48 victory and advance to the MACJC State Championship game Thursday night.
Hatcher paced the Lady Indians with 16 points, followed by Jabria Pounds (Nettleton) with 13 and Toney with 11.
Wendion Bibbins led the Lady Bobcats with 15.
The Lady Indians will face the souths top seed East Central Community College for the state title Thursday night at ICC's Davis Event Center. Tipoff is set for 6:00 pm.
East Central 65, Co-Lin 61 (W) [Box Score]
The East Central Lady Warriors (23-2) only led the Co-Lin Lady Wolves (21-4) for one minute, four seconds of their 65-61 come-from-behind win to advance to Thursday's championship game.
Alexia McDonald and Samantha Duncan tossed in a game-high 19 points for ECCC while Miracle Rushing added 11 and Johnta' Hughes scored 10 in the victory.
Danisha Davis paced Co-Lin with 18 points.
Southwest 61, East Mississippi 59 (M) [Box Score]
The Southwest Bears (16-8) led from start to finish and survived a last-second three point attempt by the East Mississippi Lions (18-7) to punch their ticket to Thursday's championship game with a 61-59 victory.
Terrell Miller scored a game-high 20 points while Lafayette Rutledge added 17 and Chris McIntosh tossed in 10 for the Bears.
Jahyde Gardiner led the Lions with 19 points.
Jones County 95, Gulf Coast 93 2OT (M) [Box Score]
In the wildest game of the tournament, the Jones County Bobcats (17-6) defeated the Gulf Coast Bulldogs (19-6) 95-93 in double overtime to earn the right to face Southwest for the MACJC Men's title on Thursday.
Trailing as much as 18, Anfernee Hampton nailed a three as time expired to send the game into overtime tied at 78 and had a chance to put the game away but missed a pair of free throws with no time left on the clock in the first OT.
Down by four, the Davion Cole-Johnson stole the Bobcats' inbounds pass and hit a lay-up to tie the game, 93-93, with sixteen seconds left in the contest. Rickey Holden answered with a lay-up of his own to help the Bobcats retake the lead, 95-93, with eight seconds remaining.
Holden finished with 14 points.
The Bulldogs got a clean look at a lay-up as time expired allowing the Bobcats to escape with the thrilling double overtime victory.
Bruce Stevens led Jones with 20 points with Maurice Dunlap adding 18 and Tristin Walley had 17 in the victory.
Anfernee Hampton paced Gulf Coast with a game-high 22 points.
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