2004

The ECCC men's team is getting solid production from the squad's veteran players. Sophomores Tawon Walker, Andrew Lewis and Ryan Hudson are each averaging double-digit scoring totals this season. Walker leads the team with 14.8 points per game, and Lewis and Hudson are aver– aging 12.4 and 10, respectively. But the Warriors' success doesn't hinge on the produc– tion of their sophomore players alone, as Smith regularly uses every player on his roster in a game. "We try to play 12-13 guys a game," Smith said. "We try to ware people down. Everybody plays hard, and that is a strength. "We have to do a better job on defense," Smith added. "We are small, and we are going to have to rely on our quickness and mental preparation."

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while to get adjusted to the dif– ferent level of competition,'' said Smith. whose team won three out of its last five before entering the holiday break. "We lo.... t a lot of close games ear– lier. We had two games we weren't in. and the others were do er." The Warriors entered the Christmas break with an 86-76 win over Northeast Mississippi on Dec. 9. Like the women's team, the first-semester-endi ng win was an improvement from a loss (100-83) to EMCC on Dec. 6. "Hopefully. we will have con– fidence when conference play starts," said Smith, whose team resumes play this season on the road against Itawamba on Thursday. "Hopefully, the break will give us a chance to come back with a winning attitude."

GOING UP East Central Community College's Andrew Lewis goes up for a shot in a game earlier this season. After nearly a month off, the Warriors and Lady Warriors will resume play this season on Thursday. .,