2016 Combined

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JUCO BASKETBALL ECCC hoops sweep doubleheader versus Pearl River CC

sophomore forward Prince McDaniel gave East Central a 52-50 lead with 9:55 remaining, a lead the Warriors would not relinquish. East Central built its biggest lead of the evening, 70-60, with 4:02 to play on a two-handed slam by the 6-5 Handy on a three-on-one fast break. But the former Lanier High School product was called for hanging on the rim and was done for the evening. The Warriors hit all six of their free throws in the final 3:25, to go along with key bas kets by Phillips and sophomore guard Ravion Henry, to secure the eight point win. Henry, product of Leake Central High School, scored a game-high 23 points to pace East Central. McDaniel out of Pascagoula High School added 15 points. Keion Peoples, a product of Ridgeway High School in Memphis, had 11 points to go with five assists and four steals. Handy led the Warriors on the boards with seven rebounds to go with his eight points. The East Central Warriors improved to 9-6 overall on the season and 4-2 in MACJC South Division play. The Pearl River Wildcats fell to 10-5 and 4-2 in the South Division. East Central is now in a four-way tie for second place in the South Division. In the first game of the evening. the East Central Lady Warriors erupted for 30 points in the first period to set the pace in a 61-47 MACJC South Division win over the Pearl

River Lady Wildcats. The win was the eighth straight for East Central, which has not lost since Dec. 7. The Lady Warriors never trailed in the contest, and jumped out to a 20-point lead by scoring nearly as many points in the first period than they could manage over the course of the remaining three periods. East Central extended that lead to as many as 23 in the third period. Pearl River was able to close the gap to 11 at 56-45 with 2:20 remaining before East Central completed the 14-point win. Sophomore guard Alexia McDonald out of Petal High School paced the Lady War riors with game-highs of 17 points and 12 rebounds. Sopho more guard Miracle Rushing of Meridian High School also added a double-double with 12 points and 11 rebounds. The East Central Lady War riors improved to 13-2 overall and 5-1 in the MACJC South Division. The Pearl River Lady Wildcats fell to 5-9 overall and 2-4 the South Division. TI1e Lady Warriors are in a three-way tie for the MACJC South Division lead. East Central travels to Summit on Monday, Jan. 25, for a doubleheader against South west Mississippi Community College. Game times are 5:30 and 7:30 p.m. The Warriors and Lady War riors then travel to Meridian on Thursday, Jan. 28, to face the Meridian Community College Lady Eagles and Eagles at 5:30 ·~ -•

From school reports

DECATUR - Playing with a shorter bench than usual, the East Central Community Col lege Warriors put in a gutsy effort in an important 80-72 MACJC South Division win over the Pearl River Commu nity College Wildcats in men's basketball action Thursday. East Central was playing without starting sophomore guard Isaiah Traylor, who was out with an injury. The 6-4 product ofTupelo High School and Arkansas State signee is averaging 11 points per game. The Warriors also lost freshman forward Tonzell Handy midway through the second hall due to two tech nical fouls in the game, one for hanging on the rim too long after a sensational dunk. Two of the Warriors big men, 6-foot 9 Randy Phillips and 6-foot-10 Shaquille Benson, were both in foul trouble most of the second hall against the taller Pearl River Wildcats. TI1e contest was close most 1 of the evening. The sec-saw affair saw Pearl River jump out to an early seven point lead, only to have East Central go on a 15-3 run to take a five-point lead, 17-12, midway through the first half. The lead changed hands several times before the Wildcats grabbed a one-point 1 lead going to the locker room, 29-28. Pearl River maintained a slim lead for the first 10 min utes of the second hali A thun dering breakaway slam by Lfilt.:_ •

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Photo courtesy of EC East Central Community College's Prince McDaniel goes high for two of his 15 points in the Warriors victory over Pearl River Com munity College. •. _ ...