2002

JUNIOR COLLEGES ECCC's Hodge, Smith s ign

JUCO HooPs the 2001 Class 4A all-state team. She played with the Mississippi all-star team in Australia last summer. Newton's Lenore Gray is a 6-foot for– ward/center who averaged 18 points and 10 rebounds as the Lady Tige rs went 27-7 and advanced to the Class 2A state tournament. She was picked to the 2002 Division 5-2A, Class 2A MAC all– state, and Class 2A all-state tournament teams. She has been named to the Mis– sissippi All-Star Game. Scott Central has a pair of players bound for ECCC in Britney Burks and Kattie Nickson. Burks, a 5-foot-7 guard, averaged 22 points, 7 rebounds, and 6 assists this past year. She was a four– year all-division selection and a three– time MAC all-state pick. As a sopho– more, Burks started on Scott Central's Class 1A :,State champion team. Burks finished her prep career with over 2,400 points and is Scott's all-time career scoring leader. She has also been picked for the Mississippi All-Star Game. Nickson is a 5-foot-9 forward who ave raged 20 points and 12 rebounds as the Lady Rebels went 19-15. A four-year all-division selection, Nickson tallied ove r 1,400 career points and played on Scott Central's 2000 state championship squad. Adding depth to the inside game is South Leake's Monique Overstreet, a 5-foot-10 forward who averaged 20 points and 10 rebounds as a senior for the 20-6 Wildkittens. She was a 2002 all-Division 5-2A choice and was named to the East Central Classic all-tourna-

ment team. Hodge expected to sign Rita Birden, a 5-foot-10 guard from St. Freqrick High School in ~1onroe, La., this morning. Birden averaged 12 points, 5 rebounds, 3.5 assist-;, and 3 steals for the Class M state champions. She was selected MVP in the A.A. state tournament and is a first-team all-state pick in Louisiana. She will play in the Louisiana All-Star Game. "District-v.;se. it's a very solid class,"' Hodge said. MWe've got very skilled players at each po~ition. Most of them are academically very strong. "We're excited to have them. With the group we've got coming Q.ack nex1 year, we feel very good at this time." All come from winning programs. "You look at how many state cham– pions or district MVPs or all-state players and it's just a solid group." Hodge said. "'We're going to add some more before it's over with, but we feel good at this time. If we can put a good out-of-state group with them, it'll be a good freshman class." ECCC can sign three out-of-staters. Smith signed six incoming freshmen including two from both Neshoba Cen– tral and Northeast Lauderdale for the men's team. Signing from l'\eshoba Central .are twins Tawon Walker and Tavare:. Walker. Both were named all-Divi.;ion 2- 4A. Tawon (6-2. 160) averaged 20.6 points, 3.1 steals. and 4.4 rebound ... and was named the ~1ost Valuable Plaver of the East Central Classic. · Tavare tb-2, 160) a\era~ed 1l "i points, 2.4 steal.... and 3.7 reboun and was selected to the £a,t CenL.UC'la5su:

"' spo·ts ass1stant Tt:R - \\ hile it wasn't m rning, Last Central Com– mu:mw Co e e \\Omen·~ first-year bas– coach Brad Hodge and first-year coach Bill ~mith were proud to , w off their nev. signees for the 2002- 03 ,chool year ~tonday night at the Brnckeen-Wood Physical Education Bw1ding. Hodge added seven new players Monday and b expected to sign another today. Monday's signees include 6-foot for– ~d Kimyatta Viverette from Lake. She ~eraged 14 points, 9 rebounds, and 4 block.., a:. a senior and was the division . lo-.t Valuable Player two years and was ill-di\;sion three times. Viverette has been selected to the Mississippi– Alabama All-Star Game and was picked to .!te ~ississippi Association of CoaL~,. .... all-state team in 2001 and 2002. lakt- ~m ...hed 27-4 this year after going 34-3 ..: d winning the Class 1A state champiOnship a year ago. Miranda Rosar is a 5-foot-11 for– ward center from Neshoba Central. She a~ra ed 15 points and 8 rebounds as a • rand i... a three-time all-Division 2- ~.li selection. The Lady Rockets went ~-11 thi, }ear after going 28-11 and r the Qa..., 4A state semifinals a

~'""'""from ;'-;eshoba Central is a 5-foot-5 ~ard who aver- -

'st-., and 2 rebounds a 73 percent free– ]... a four-time all– and wa... chosen to

APPEARED I

CARTHAG INIAN_________ _ NESHOBADEMOCRAT_________ NEWTON RECORD__________ MERIDIAN STAR_ ______ CLARION -LEDGER________ _

LAKE MESSENGER______________ SCOTI COUNTY TIMES_ ___ _ _ UN ION APPEAL _______________ WINSTON COUNTY JOURNAL._______ SPIRIT OF MORTON___ _ _ _ _