1977-1982

C Cagers Span

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By DAVID RAINER Assistant Sports Editor DECATUR - The East Central Junior College basketball program spans the entire spectrum of the standings. At one end is the Warriorettes with a 16-5 overall record and I 12-2 in the South Division. good for the top seed going into next week's tournament. On the opposite end is the Warriors. who haven't won a ball game since before Christmas and are seeded at the bottom in the South Division playoffs with an 8-13 overall record and 2-12 in the league. -- The E C J c C 7 in the opening round of the playoffs. while the ECJC men nave to travel to Wesson to battle toprated Copiah-LincolnMonday night at 7. The Warriorettes alreadv own two victories over Utica in the regular season. but both were tough, according to coach Lucille I Wood. I "They (Utica) shouldn't be No 8." said the women's coach. "We beat them 100-93 in overtime at their place and 8573 here last Tuesday. We were luckv to win over there. "They're so physical." she continued. "Thev're not all that tall. they're just big." One thing th ECJC women have in their favor is prior experience. The Warriorettes captured the overall state title last year by beating Northwest and then went to the semifinals of the Region 7 tourney. "One thing that helps is what teams before us have done," said Wood. "Evervbody expects us to win. We've been to the state tournament four years in' a row and Region 7 the last four years. We've won the state twice. was runnerup one time and third one time." Two players from last year's championship team return. sophomore guard Esther Thomas and sophomore forward Joyce Watkins. Thomas, a Louisville native. is leading the state with a 21.9 point average. while Lake's Watkins is averaging 11.2 points and 11 rebounds. Freshman forward Debbie McBeath of Sebastopol is second in the state averaging 21 points a game. Rounding out the starting five is 5-10 center Mona Tucker of Forest and the other guard slot will be filled by either Kelly Walsh of Forest or Faye Russell of Union. or Faye Quinn of Noxapater or Jane Dees of Leake Academy. + "We have more of a mdfion offense than last year." said ' Wood. whose 24-year record at ECJC stands at 154-66. "We do more outside. "This group certainly doesn't have the abilitv of teams I've had in other years." she continued. "But they're all good students. they work hard and they're team players. We've gotten 100 percent from everjl person That's the only reason we've won. "1 suppose of all the teams I've coached this team has done more with ~ t s ability than any I've ever worked with," Wood added. "We're just not blessed with talent." And what will it take for a repeat performance in the 1 tournament?