2015

WEEKOF ~~\ ~\_/ ~·(-' -+-~l~'J~- East Central CC men, women

By Reed DeSalvo P.S<' -(£' "

we needed to win to give ourselves a chance to get to the (tournament). and we've been playing well at home - only one loss all year." After a sluggish start, East Central found itself trailing 14-13. However, McDaniel ignited his team and fans with his thunderous dunk and a pair of 3-pointers during a rally that eventually put the Warriors ahead 27-20. "I felt good, and all my shots were going in," said McDaniel, who also pulled down a team-high seven rebounds. ''That was my first dunk at home, so I had to get it turned up. But we have to keep our focus and continue to box out defensively." On multiple occasions in the second

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Prince McDaniel scored ateam-high 25 points, including five treys, and hauled in seven rebounds.

DECATUR- East Central Commu– nity College coach Robert Thompson calb Prince McDaniel his team's best player. On Thursday night, the freshman guard pro\·ed why. McDaniel scored a team-high 25 points, including five 3-pointers, and threw down a monstrous one-handed dunk to help lift the Warriors past Hind:. Community College 78-59 in MAC.TC South Division action. ..He played very well," Thompson said of McDaniel. "He knocked down his 3-point attempts, was very aggres-

sive, and he's got a lot of potential; he only played one year in high school. He keeps improving ever y day, and I'm really excited about the potential he can bring to our team." With the win, ECCC (12-9, 7-5) clinches a top-4 spot in the division, a position it needed in order to reach the state tournament set to begin Feb. 23. "I thought we played well overall," Thompson said. "We came in knowing

)p Hinds CC EAST CENTRAL from page B1 River). They're No. 1 in the division." h~. the Bulldogs managed to trim the EAST CENTRAL RUNS AWAY deficit to 12 points, but ECCC prevented them from coming any closer. Ten separate East Central Commu- -:Uey made a hard rll,!1 at us, and our nity College players scored five or more guvs got a little relaxed, Thompson points as ECCC pounded Hinds Com- said. "We called timeout and got our munity College 95-42 in women's action. composure. We had a great team eff~rt, The LadyWarriors (18-3, g..3) left no and I was real pleased wit~ ou~ play. doubt in the result of the contest as they Isaiah Traylor chipped m. with 11 controlled the action from start to oints, including three 3-po~nters._ . . finish. . P East Cent. d can bolster its positton "We had a lot better execution and a in .he state tourname11t when .it takes on lot better focus (Thurs day),''. E~st Cen– South Division lea

ot their 22 3-point attempts, and held a 32-11 lead midway through the first half following a 15-4 run. "I think we came out tonight focused and rotated well on defense," Porter said. ''We executed well on offense and made shots." ECCC kept its momentum going strong in the second half as it began the half on a 1g..3 spurt to push its advan– tage to 72-27. ''We don't like to play to the opponent or to the score," Por ter said. "I thought the second half we executed really well, and we didn't worry about what the score was. We did what we were sup– posed to do, and that's whatyou have to do." ECCC will host Pearl River Commu– nity College Monday for sophomore night. "I want to honor these kids, because the five sophomores that we have, two of them were here through the rough times," Porter said. Now we have better times, and I jµst appreciate w.hat they've done for the program. I want to honor them."

\ said. "I was in the gym working all week, and I guess it paid off. ~oach

(Porter) told us to play at a high level at all times, and that's what we did. Butwe have to continue to work hard and talk more on defense." Off the bench, T ashi-Ana Thompson connected on four 3-point attempts in~ the firs t hal( including one at the buzzer that gave her squad a commanding 53- 24 lead at the half. Thompson finished the game with 15 points, six rebounds and six assists. "We don't fuss over who starts," Porter said. "When you glay, make the best of it, and (Thompson does). She's a heck of a playir, and she has a really high ~ Q." IC Th,.. Lady .t'Vttrriors connected on 12

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