1972-1977

By BILLY TURNER E Carrcs~onttent

Meridim's Earl Eeolis and ~ & v e McWmams hit for a Basket- apiecein the finalminuteof play last night alt the Meridian Gym as the Junior College Eagles edged the Watriors of East Cen- tral, 71-69. McWilliarnshit a fallinglayupwith 55 seconqsremaining to be followedby Lewis' tip in of a stray shotwith 50 ~ c o n d s left to ice the game. Meridian posted its fourth win in a row, t i e most for the season, and pushed its record to 12.9. East Central gave the Eagles fits in the ophing moments. Froma 4-4 tie with 15 minutes left in the initial hqf the Warriors spurted to a 10.5-lead. i, BUT BUTCH LEGGETT, who hit a season highi26 points, got hot to put in four points and LarryWatkinsadded a $umper to set the Eagles on top by one, 11-10. \ After a Sonny Jackson bucket gave the Eagles atthreepoint edge, the teamsplayed on even t m s untilMeridian went up by six with 350 left in the half on a three point pla* by Steve McWilliams. 1 But a free throw by David Blount and two buckets bv John McFarland put ~ast-central ahead at the half, 3534. - Meridian hit the first threebasketsof the secondhalf and were off and running. Leggett continued his long range assault with his two buckets. . TheEagles continued to push pressure on EC. With 11minutes left the Eaales led bv seven. 49-42. but McFarland led the EC behind bv one with nine minutes left. warriors ourof the wads with a rampageof six points. ThB put I NOW IT WAS THE Warriors time to burn the cords with basketballs. A bucket by Kenneth Russell and a three point play by Billy Wilbanks put them up by four. \ After buckets by McWilliarnk and Leggett had tied the game 6 the battleaf nervesthat thegames between these two teams bail down tQ began. In the nest seven minutes, seven ties occuredi, East Central got out to a four point leadwith four minutes left! 71 But then out ief a mire of rustiness that seemed to hold the . Meridian guards, came Larry WaWns. W a h s hit two free throws then whipped the ball out of the hands of a Warrior, caught the resulting pass fromWillie Wade and layed it in for the tieing tally. With 2:43 remainingLeggett softly layed in two freethrows to make it 67-65. A BASKET BY McFARLdNO tied it and t h e ~ Lewis and McWilliams did theit coolness thing. McWiUiams must be beginning to growon theWarriors for it was his shot in the last ten seconds that defeated them earlier this year. Meridian next takes on Clarke Junior College at Clarke Saturday night. Meridian shot 41 per cent to the Warriors' dismal 35 per cent. Leggettalso led the Eagleswith 11 rebounds en route to his best night of the year. I o 12 11 OnBasketSbyMikeHorneandRusseil. 2

a

EAGLES' SONNY JACKSON Closely Guarded By Central

EAST CENTRAL 169)

MERIOIIINfII)

FG FT PF TP ; 30 ; 2;

FG FT PF TP

o o

John McFdrland Larry McFar,altd Oav~d Blount Kenncth Russell . 51llyW~lbanks Ronn~cTadlock Mtke Hrirne

3

3

Oscar Coleman Earl Lewis Butt,, Legpet, WllitcWadc Larry Watkins

1;

o 0 2 2 1 1 0 0 5.8

o 5 5

4 4

11

SleveMcW~liiarns Soriny Jackson

1

0 0 7.12

1

1

2

2

1

Totali

31

33

18

Totals

15 69