Thursday, November 20, 2008
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Thursday, November 20, 2008 |
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Community | Obits | Editorial & Columnists | Society | Sports | Education | Classified Ads | Calendar of Events | Features | Newsbriefs | Legals | Archives | Subscriptions | Photo Gallery |
| Lady Lions knock off 4A Oxford By BARRY BURLESON
The defending Class 2A state champions sent notice Thursday night that they’re back and perhaps better than before. Coach Jason Thompson’s H.W. Byers Lady Lions stunned Class 4A Oxford 75-52 on the Lady Chargers’ home floor. Oxford entered the game ranked number eight in The Clarion-Ledger’s “Super 10.” “It was a huge win,” Thompson said. “We’re trying to create something at Byers; it’s no secret. Our keys are to work hard and play hard-nosed defense and simply out-will the other team. Plus, we try to be in better shape than anyone we play, and we take pride in that.” Byers got Oxford’s star player, 6’1’ DeAnna Thompson, into foul trouble. She picked up her third with two seconds left in the first half and was on the bench to start the second half. Byers trailed 35-33 at the intermission. “The attitude we went into the locker room with was to go back out and take control,” Thompson said, “and that’s what we did in the third quarter. I told them the team that wants it the most will win. We played a great second half.” The Lady Lions grabbed their first lead of the game just 10 seconds into the third period. Rachel Jones scored, was fouled and nailed the free throw. Byers’ pressure defense sparked the offensive outburst. Kourtney Coleman came alive. She scored 10 straight points and Byers was in command at 52-38 with 2:55 to go in the third. Ciara Seldon’s three upped the lead to 18 points. The Lady Lions coasted through the fourth and won by 23 to improve to 7-0 on the season. Rachel Jones tossed in a game-high 24 points. Coleman followed with 15, 12 of those in the third quarter. Amanda Jones added 13. For Oxford. Thompson finished with 16, 14 coming in the first half. Brittani Smith added 12. “Oxford is a very skilled team and highly-respected,” Coach Thompson sid. “It was a statement game for us. Byers boys vs. Oxford Oxford’s Dandy Dozen player, Keith Searcy, and his supporting cast proved to be too much for Byers, but coach Sylvester Kilgore’s Lions did not go down without a fight. The Chargers led by 20 midway through the second quarter and were on top 44-27 at the half. Byers sliced the deficit to 13 in the third quarter before the Chargers took control again and won 86-67. The Lions’ record evened at 3-3. “We played much better in the second half,” Coach Kilgore said. “But we have no excuses. We expect to compete against anyone. Hopefully, this will make us better later in the season. “The guys fought hard for the most part. I’m proud of the effort.” Tedarian Bryson gunned in 16, including four three-pointers in the fourth quarter. Fred Jones followed with 10. For Oxford, Searcy dominated with 27. Brandon Blake had 17 and Willis Certion 16. Two of Blake’s bucket were dunks off lob passes from Certion - both igniting the home crowd. Byers vs. Byhalia Marshall County rivals H.W. Byers and Byhalia split basketball games on Tuesday of last week at Byers. The Lady Lions pulled away in the second half for a 74-33 victory. Five Byers girls scored in double figures – Rachel Jones with 17, Amanda Jones and Alexis Hardaway with 11 each, and Symone Gorman and Coleman with 10 each. Erica Bougard’s 10 points led the Lady Indians. Byers led 27-15 at the half and stretched it to 49-25 after three quarters. “We pulled within two in the third quarter,” said Summer Pannell, head coach of the Lady Indians, “and Erica Bougard got in foul trouble and had to come out. Byers pushed the lead back up. “We have been struggling this season to find floor leadership. I think Erica Bougard is going to step up big for us by the time division games get here.” The unbeaten Byhalia boys won the nightcap. But it was much closer than the 79-47 Indians’ victory over the Lions a week earlier.
Mario Parker and Joshua Rogers combined for 37 points as Byhalia escaped Byers with a 70-62 victory. The Indians trailed 40-30 at the half but outscored the Lions 20-6 in the third to snatch the lead, 50-46. “We didn’t play well in the first half, especially defensively,” said Michael Neal, head coach of the Indians. “We made some adjustments at the half, and in the third quarter it was evident. “We hit some shots and made some stops. We showed some character.” Parker scored 19 for Byhalia, and Rogers had 18. The Indians improved to 3-0. Leading the Lions were Bryson with 22 and Jones with 13. Schedule Byers teams visit Holly High Thursday night and then host Independence Friday night. |
      
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