2004

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ECCC women win state titl East Central can earn nationals bid this week By ROCKY HIGGINBOTHAM Sp1>r1s l~clitnr thi~ wee~>:' Ecce coach l::kJ.d Hodge aid. "\\'e had three tough game~ in thrc~day:-.last week. and we'll have to win three tough games in four day' thi\ week. Fat1gue 1s a big factor for C\ el} l:xxl) .'' REGION 23 TOURNAMENT ~OMEN'S SCHEDULE

111 the tir~t round. Jones rode that momentum into the finals. where ECCC heat the Lad) Bobcat:- 73-6-l. !lodge's bunch enters this week·s region tnume) witJ1 a sparkling 26-2 record that includes 19 straight wins. The Lad) Warriors were to take on Mrssissippi Ddta Monda) night in an opcmng-round game. with a win pu~hing ECCC into today\; 2:45 p.m. senutinal agamst either 1\orthca~t or Gulf Ct>asl. The championship ts slated for Thur\day at 6 p.m.. with all games bemg held at ~li~s1ssippi College ·s Golden Dome in Clinton. • East Central 73 .Jont:s Count) M: In last Thursda) \ state champi- See ECCC page 58

Monday, March 1 East Central vs. MISSISSippi De Northeast M1ss1ssippi vs. Gulf Jones County vs. Northwest Delgado, La. vs. Coprah-Lrnco Wednesday, March 3 12:30 p.m. - Jones/Northwest 2 45 p.m. - East Central!De!la ne1 vs. NortheasVGulf Coast WlMeT ner vs Delgado/Co-lmw1nner

It was a tactor last wed:. but Ea!i.t Central\ women st1ll seemed to run down the competition The Lad) War– ribrs opened. the state tourne) at Boone-.,ilk wllh a 72-SR win over lta\\amba. then UlC) l;nod:cd off Gulf Coast 72-63 111 the scmifinab. The championship game was expected to be a showdown between two nationally-ranked teams. No. 17 East Central st,t)ed on cour~e. but ~ixth-rankcd and host Northca.\t \\as upset b) Jones Count) Junior College

f.:.m.t Central Communll} Coll~gc\ \\ men bru,ketballtcam won h til"' Mall.! championship m a quarter-centu T) la\t \\ l.!ek. But the Lady Warrior~ certainl} d1dn't get much time to enJO) it. ECCC wa~ to be had: on the court ~fonda} tn quarterfinal action m the NJCAA Region 23 Tournament- the event \\ 11ch must be captured for a team to qualify for the national tour– nament. "It'll be a challenge to get read) for

Thursday, March 4 6 p.m. - Champ1onsh p

(Wednesday winners)