2001

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I LOCAL SPORTS Rockets nip Knights in ECCC finals Photo by Paula Merritt/The Mendian Star UP IN THE AIR - Un1on s Anthony Johnson puts up a jumper agamst Morton

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By Marty Stamper/The Mendian Star Dec. 2 2001

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DECATUR - eshoba Central first-year boys' basketball coach Ke v n Sm1th was sporting a huge grin Saturday night after his RocKets de'eated West Lauderdale 59-57 for the championship of :'le Eas: Centra Community College Central Mississippi Class1c. Tne Rockets mproved to 7-2 and avenged one of their two losses tn s seasor '\/1/e came m and played great in our three games rn this tournament. Smith said. "Tonight, both teams were probably tired, we were so sluggish. I know we were tired. "It wasn 't pretty. It was a struggle, but you've got to relish the wm. E1ther team could have pulled it out. (West) coach (Duran) Clark and I talked the other night during the semifinals and I told him that any of the four teams left could win it. They were all four competitive.

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Neshoba led 17-15 after one quarter only to have the Knights carry a 31-29 advantage 1nto halftime on Andre Adams' buzzer-beating shot.

The second half was equally as fierce as the game was tied on 10 occasions with seven lead changes before tournament MVP Tawon Walker hit the game-winner with 15 seconds rema1n1ng . Anthony Jones missed two free throws w1th SIX seconds left to give West one final chance which bounced off the front of the rim when freshman Mark Ford got the rebound on one end and drove for a potential game-winning 3-pointer as time ran out

Neshoba got 25 pomts from Walker. 16 from Desmond Jones. 12 from Tavares Walker, and six from Calvin Parker.

West, 8-2. got 22 points from Calvin Moore. 17 from Boo Ramsey , seven from Karlos Lewis, and five from Adams.

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