2004

EAST CE TR YCOllEGE Region 23 champs Lady Warriors headed to national tournament From Swf Reports

CIJNTON - 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 Mississip– pi College's A.E. Wood Coliseum clinched the Region 23 champi– onship and a berth in the NJCAA Women's Division I national cham– pionship tournament, March 16-20 at Salma, Kan. The bracket will be drawn up Wednesday following play in the other regionals. Sixteen tean1s advance to the national tour– nament. ECCC improved to 29-2 and extended its winning streak to 22. "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. 'l'he good news was that Co-Lin

ROBBIE ROBERTSON/THE NEWTON RECORD

held only an 8·1 advantage. Lenore Gray got ECCC's frrst bas- . . . ket on a put-back with 14 :14 left in . Un 1n the Reg1on 23 champ1onsh1p game. the half. After Co-Lin went up lo-3 with 8:42 to go in the half. After a on a basket by Travalyn Smith, the layup by Rita Birden, Burks scored Lady Warriors reeled off 12 unan· on another baseline jumper for a 15- swcred points to grab a lead they 10 lead. would not relinquish. "Shewas invisible in vanuary and Kim Cox had a basket and two February; but she did some good free throws during the rW1, with things the last couple of games that Britney Burks' baseline jumper have helped us a lot," Hodge said of putting ECCC up for good at 11-10 the sophomore from Scott Central . .

East Central's Kotreece Bender looks to pass the ball Thursday against Co-

"The five sophomores that sit on the bench are the ones that have really made the difference. Acouple of them played a lot last year and are not playing much this year. They never complained and they deserve the credit for holding us See CHAMPS, Page 3B