2016 Combined

The game seesawed back and forth in the first quarter after the Itawamba took an early 4-0 lead. A three-pointer by East Central's Kalybriah Haskin with 9:00 to go in the second period gave the Lady Warriors a 21-18 lead that they would never give up. East Central, which led 38-35 at the half, missed 10 of its first 12 shots to start the third period before settling in and pulling out to a 51-45 lead heading into the final stanza. The Lady Warriors controlled the final period leading by as many as 14 at one point before the final score of 75-63. The three-point shooting of sophomore guard Samantha Duncan, a product of Oak Grove High School, kept the Lady Warriors in the game through the first two periods. Duncan had 18 points in the first half, including 5 of 9 from beyond the three-point arc. Johnta' Hughes, a sophomore guard from Hattiesburg High School, scored all 12 of her points in the second half. Alexia McDonald out of Petal High School tied Duncan for game-high with 20 points, and Meridian High School product Miracle Rushing had another big night on the boards with 14 rebounds to go with 16 points and six assists.

East Central improved its season record to 24-2 with the win over the Lady Indians. Itawamba fell to 20-6.

East Central advanced to the championship game with a 72-68 win over East Mississippi Community College and a 65-61 win over Copiah-Lincoln Community College. ltawamba's road to the title game included a 58-52 win over Southwest Mississippi Community College and a 58-48 victory over Jones County.

APPEARED IN:

NESHOBA DEMOCRAT _______

CARTHAGINIAN - - -- - - -

NEWTON COUNTY APPEAL_ __

SCOTT COUNTY TIMES- - -----

SPIRIT OF MORTON._ _____

WINSTON COUNTY JOURNAL-----

MERIDIAN STAR- ------

CLARION-LEDGER - - - - -- - - -

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