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Friday, March 05, 2004

I LocAL SPORTS Lady Warriors claim Region 23 hoops title By Marty Stamper I EMG sports assistant

March 5, 2004

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CLINTON - It wasn't their most impressive win and definitely not the prettiest of their 29 conquests this season, but Thursday's 52-45 victory over Copiah-Lincoln was definitely the one the East Central Lady Warriors have been looking forward to. The seven-point win at Mississippi College's A. E. Wood Coliseum clinched the Region 23 championship and a berth in the NJCAA Women's Division I national championship tournament, March 16-20 at Salina, Kan. The bracket will be drawn up Wednesday. following play in the other regionals. Sixteen teams advance to the national

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tournament.

ECCC improved to 29-2 and extended its winning streak to 22.

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"We did what we had to do to win," ECCC head coach Brad Hodge said. "(Co-Lin coach) Gwyn Young and the Lady Wolves did what they had to do to give themselves a chance . They controlled the tempo of the game, and we couldn't ever make shots to get into some full-court pressure.

"It was an excellent game plan on their part, but fortunately our defense was able to survive. The games we've lost were in the 50s."

ECCC struggled on the offensive end for nearly six minutes to start the game, having only a Kimyatta Viverette free throw to show for their efforts.

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The good news was that Co-Lin held only an 8-1 advantage.

Lenore Gray got ECCC's first basket on a put-back with 14:14 left in the half. After Co-Li n went up 10-3 on a basket by Travalyn Smith, the Lady Warriors reeled off 12 unanswered points to grab a lead they would not relinquish. Kim Cox had a basket and two free throws during the run, with Britney Burks' baseline jumper putting ECCC up for good at 11-10 with 8:42 to·go in the half. After a layup by Rita Birden , Burks scored on another baseline jumper for a 15-10 lead.

"She was invisible in January and February, but she did some good things the last couple of games that have helped us a lot," Hodge said of the sophomore from Scott Central.

"The five sophomores that sit on the bench are the ones that have really made the

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