1954-1972

Warriors Nip Eagles, 74-73 By GLEN FORD DECATUR - East Central's Eagles stayed in ohe game by R. L. Gilmer tipped in t w-o Lewis and guard Ronnie Roberts I points al the buzzer. here last hitting key buckets. ' night to give the Warriors a With four minutes left in the 7.J-73 viclory over the visiting game Meridian cut the lead to :\kridi an Junior College Eagles. five but loss the services of The win was the second for Kelly who fouled o u t of the East Central over the Eagles game. But East Central came k1 \·ing \\On earlier in the season right back to take a nine point in the :VIeridian gym. lead 71-62. The loss was the third in a At that point Redgate sent in row for coach Jim R~dgate's an aggressive press 1 e d by Eagles and dropped their over- Roberts and Poole. At 1:58 to go all record to 9-11 with only two the Warriors led by seven points regular season games remain- with time running out for the 'ing . Eagles. East Central placed t?ree me1'. The effective press caused two I in double fi gures w I th Jeff successive turnovers by East Gardner hitting for 23. Gilmer Central and Meridian cashed in l ripping the nets for 20, followed on both cutting the score to 72- J by Joe Fondren who connected 69. Eagle guard Kerth Logan ! for 16 points. and Cole hit key buckets to cut 1 Sammie Cole led the scoring the lead. And with ten seconds for Meridian with 27, he was left to play Cole hit a 20 ft. foll owed by Lem Kelly who put jumpshot to give the Eo.gles the in 14 points beforing leaving the lead for the first time since bhe game via the foul route. Tim openir.g minutes of the game. Poole was the only other Eagle With six seconds remaining lo make double figures by push- EC brought the baJJ down court ini:: in 10 points. and Warrior guard Joe Fondren :Mer idia n opened the scoring put up a shot that rolled off the when Cole drove in for a layup rim but Gilmer came up over seconds after the tip off. but the top at the buzzer to tip It Gilmer came right back hitting in to give East Central t he a 10 ft. set shot to start the game, 74-73. scori ng for he Warriors. The Eagles travel to Jones East Central, who scored most Junior College Thursday night of thei r points from the outside. for their next action before re– took lhe lead at 16:40 when turning home to finish up the gua rd Fondren hit from 18 feet season with Clarke. Midway though the period the Warriors led 60-51. The

011t. Late in the first half the Warriors built up seven point I .lead only to see it cut to one 31-30 by the hot shooting of I Perry Lewis. Cole and Poole. The second half opened with both clubs hitting fr om the . floor. East Central held the lead throughou t the half up un– til the last six seconds when !he 1 Engles came back from a nine ' point deficit to take the lead !: 7372. ; BOX SCORE

l •

-Photo BY BUii D~Mon

EAST CENTRAL'S JOE FONDREN (12) ••• Battles Lem Kelly For Rebound

MERIDIAN (73)

FG FT

PF TP • 1 27 . 5 14 . 5 7 2 7 0 10 0 2 l 6 14 73

Col~ . •.... .. .•. .. .. .. .. • 12

3 4

Kelly

. .. ... •..•... . . •.. 5

E therirlge . . . •. . •. •. . . . • 3 Lewis ..... .. .... . .. .. ... 3 Poole .. . .. ....••. •• .•.•. . 3 looo11 . . . . . •. •• . . . •• . • . •• l Roherts • . . . . . . . . • . . . ••• 3 TOTALS ... .. .. . ....... 30 13 Fouled out-Kelly, Etheridge, EAST CENTRAL (74) FG FT Burton .•... ... . .•. ••.• . 4 1 Harrison •. . . . . •. . . •. . •. 3 0 Gordner .... , . •• ••• •.•.•. 9 5 Fondren .. . . . . •. •. . . . . . • 8 O Gilmer . . . .. •. . . •. . . . . . . 9 2 TOTALS •. .• •• •••• .• •. 33 8 l 1 4 0 O

PF TP 4 9 l 6 4 23 4 16 2 20 lS 74