2008

WEEK OF '--:s ~__,.....:....·-~..s-.,---

Small College otebook Gradual return feels right to MC coach By Mike Chrlst.nsen mchrlat~a.icnledger.com

CC coachBillSmith,whose team started 9.{) and rose to No. 10 in the country. "The South is so strong. It'll be a battle every night." ECCC, now 10-1 and ranked 13th, won its division opener Monday, 87-83 at Jones County as Rashima Jenkins and ex– Provine star Ta._esha Brown combined for 45 points. "Any road win is a good win," Smith said. "We've got a good nucleus back from last year with five sophomores. Things are clickingso far." No. 17Copiah-Lincoln (10-1), Meridian (11-1) and Southwest (9-1) also won their division openers. Meridian, Jedby preseasonAll– America Nadosha Strickland, visits ECCC inDecatur tonight. Tip-ins Delta State's women, ranked No. 2 in NCAA Division ll, are 12-0, the best start in coach San– dra Rushing's six seasons. The LadyStatesmenopen GulfSouth Conference play on Saturday at Ouachita Baptist. Freshman ::>anta ''Bug" Cooper, Mississip– pi's Miss Basketball in 2007, has been a contributor for DSU, handing out 49 assists.... MC's Rosemary Green, a Jones JC transfer, was named the ASC East women's player of the week after averaging 19 ppg and 4.5 rpg in a pair of\vins.... Itawamba CC's men (13-1), the defendingRegion23 champs, are ranked No. 11 in the new NJCAA poll.... The Millsaps men, coming off a huge victory over Trinity last Saturday, take their seven-game winning streak on a challenging road swing, starting Friday at Colorado Col– lege. The Majors (10-1, 3-0 Southern Collegiate Athletic Conference) will also playAustin College (Sunday) and the Uni– versity of Dallas (Monday) on the trip.... Former Delta State standout Jeremy Richardson. who became the fourth DSl ~t ......, tn nl:w in the NBA or ABA

When Mississippi College's Choctaws play their first home game of the new year tonight, Mike Jones will be back on the bench. Sort of. "I've kioda been staying behind the bench," Jones said. The MC coachandathlet- JonM ic director bad triple-bypass sur– gery in early November and is easing his way back into coach– ing. "I feel good," Jones said Wednesday. "The main thing is my energy leveL I get tired quick– ly. I've been fighting tiredness.... But I'm OK. I feel blessed just to be here." Jones has been attendingprac– tices and breaking down film for several weeks. He went on the team's recent trip to V1rginia and Texas. DonLofton-Jones' longtime assistant and the head coach for iouryearswhile Joneswas onhia– tus as full-time AD - has been running the games from the coach's seat.

"Don's done a wonderful job," Jones said. "I've put a Jot on his shoulders; I'm thankful that he's here. We work well together. We complement each other sowell." The Choctaws, two-time defending American Southwest Conference champs, are 7-3 and AP?E. 4-2 in the league. Junior Kiki Christmas, one of 14 newcomers .......ART on the active roster, leads in scor- 1..J • ingat 14.5 points per game. "We've been up and down " sc 0 r Jones said, "but the potential is there.We'vejustgotsomanynew UN!Of\ guys." What Jones would like to see WINST -fromhisseat behind the bench - against ASC foe Sui Ross SPIRIT State tonight is some tighter defense. OTHEF Onoonents are shoot~l_l:g o~-e~

NESHOBA DEMOCRAT I - - ---- NEWTON RECORD --------------- MERIDIAN STAR 1 CLARION-LEDGE_R_ ;+------

IMPACT____ _______