2016 Combined

Week of ____\:_--_l_l_\ -_\_\o_ _ __

By Drew Kerekes dkerekes@themeridlanstar.com

'' We're just

percent. I cannot accept it if you don't give me good effort and don't play hard. I was pleased with them, and we're just going to build off this game." ECCC's starters played the bulk of the minutes, but women's coach Crandall Porter did try to sub in his backups throughout the contest. When he did, the dropoff in perform ance was noticeable, as MCC went on runs at the end of the second and third quarters to cut into the Lady Warriors' lead. "Overall, I thought our first group played pretty well," Porter said. "We're just trying to build some depth, and we're going to need that down the stretch, it just didn't work out tonight. We didn't execute with our second group as well as we needed to, but a lot of that was because of Meridian continuing to work hard. You have to give them credit - no matter the score, they continued to play hard, and that's a credit to

Coach McGillberry and her staff." ECCC opened up to a 20-4 run in the opening period before maintaining a 26-10 lead after one. MCC upped its scoring output in the second quarter, scoring 22 points in the frame, but ECCC maintained its pace and took a 50-32 lead into the half. After subbing in the backups during the second quarter and quickly subbing the starters back in after just a couple of minutes, Porter again tried to give the bench some minutes. But the Lady Warriors were held to just 12 points in the third period and went scoreless in the final 3:40 while MCC scored 10 unanswered points over the same timeframe. This cut ECCC's lead to nine going into the fourth quarter before the Lady Warriors pulled away again in the final frame. See Mee on page B2----

A 26-10 deficit after one quarter was too much for the Meridian Community College women to overcome Thursday night, but that didn't stop the Lady Eagles from trying. In fact, two quarters later, MCC managed to cut its deficit against rival East Central Com munity College down to nine points going into the final frame. But the Lady Warriors tallied 23 points in the fourth period en route to an 85-72 win as they had six players finish in double digit scoring. MCC women's coach Jocelyn McGillberry said she was proud of the way her girls fought, even in defeat. She referenced an 86-55 loss to ECCC earlier this season and pointed out her team didn't give up even after falling behind in the first quarter. "Tonight was a great per

trying to build some depth, and we're going to need that down the stretch. - ECCC women's co1teh Crandall Porter

'' formance - even though we did lose, the kids went out and did what I asked them to do," McGillberry said. "A lot of games that we lost, they didn't give 110 percent, and it's like I told them in the locker room, I can accept a loss if you give 110

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