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THE HOUSTON HOME JOURNAL, WEDNESDAY. DECEMBER 26, 1990
8A
f The Houston Home f
I Journal
m '
Mark Blumen
HHJ Sports Writer
I survived
basketball
for the week
The Christmas Crossroads
Invitational tournament is over and
1 survived it. I knew it would be a
long and grinding road.
The Panthers played host to
Dodge County and the Lady Pan
thers also battled the girls from
Eastman.
Both teams had tough games and
then die championships were a treat
for everyone to enjoy.
Marcus Little of Central really
put on a show as did the rest of his
crew.
Greg Streeter for Peach County
and Natalie While for the Lady
Trojans did their best to keep their
teams from looking like they didn't
deserve to be in the championship
but they did a commendable job.
Now, I would like to wash the
people of Perry a very Merry
Christmas and a Happy New Year.
I hope Santa has brought every
one the presents the wished for.
Here is a list of things that I ex
pect were on some of the Perry and
Westfield coach's lists.
First for the Lady Panthers,
Coach James Kinchen openly asked
for some guards.
He said if he didn't gel any guards
that he would settle for another re
bounder so that Dcidre Williams
could bring the ball up die court.
Coach Carl Thomas has asked for
some free throw shooters or some
perimeter players.
In the last game before Saturday's
play, he got his present, somewhat,
a little early. His squad shot 19-37.
That was only the second lime
this year his team has shot over 50
percent. Once they went 13-19, hut
lost by 18 points in the game.
Ben Brown, over at Westfield
told me Friday night that when his
B-lcam played Stratford, they shot
9-21 from the free throw line and
that Stratford shot 19-22.
"The night before, I saw two
NBA teams shoot better than Strat
ford's B-team from the free throw
line. They were the Houston Rock
ets and New York Knicks.”
Mind you, this is NBA teams.
No one else shot better than the
Stratford B-icam on that particular
night. "And these arc ninth
graders," Brown explained.
Coach Cater Pierce has probably
asked for his team to gel a wan. I’m
sure he won't mind if the present is
a little laic. Let's say like January 4
at Stratford.
Coach Donna Campbell has
probably asked for some depth to
give her starters a breather.
Maybe someone like Kim Mar
shall, or Kaci Williamson or
someone else can step forward and
do the job to make Campbell's
wish come true.
As for some other wishes for
Christmas, Coach Max Vickers (B
tcam coach), and coach Glover
Gibson (ninth grade coach) at Perry
High School has probably gotten
their present a little early.
The squads arc currently 5-0 and
have looked good in all their
games.
In the ninth grade game last
Monday, Perry look a 53-43 victory
over a AAAA Northeast Macon
Raiders team and got scoring from
eight players including 15 from
Keith Wimberly and 13 from Mar
lon Mitchell.
Both these players weren't at
Perry a year ago. I mean they
weren't at Perry Middle even.
Wimberly scored seven of his in
the third period and Mitchell scored
eight in the fourth so I know Gib
son is pleased with his present be
ing two clutch players. Maybe a
better present would be to see these
players come on and contribute on
another level.
I know this a lot to ask for but
anything is possible in this lopsy
Please see BLUMEN, Page 9A
Central takes Christmas tourney
H . 1
V
Marcus Little shoots his running one hander in the
lane over Peach County's Trent Parker (#2l). He was
named All-Tournament and won the tournament MVP.
Southeast wins second tournament
Natalie White (#3) for Peach County battles it out with
Southeast’s Quincie Grayer (#4O) for a rebound. White
won the battle but lost the war as Southeast won the
Christmas tournament held at Perry High School.
Perry splits consolation games with Dodge
Cold second half
leads to Lady
Panthers loss
By MARK BLUMEN
Sports Writer
The Perry High School Lady
Panthers saw what's gelling to be a
regular occurence Saturday after
noon in the battle for third place of
the Christmas Crossroads Invita
tional Tournament.
What's that? The Lady Panthers
grabbed a big lead and lost to Dodge
County as the Squaws rallied in the
second half for a 45-35 victory.
Perry jumped out to a 11-4 lead
on two Dcidre Williams free throws
with 2:22 left in the first period.
The Lady Panthers increased the
lead to 15-6 on a Monica Kendrick
layup.
Perry led 15-8 after one period
and the Squaws scored the first two
baskets of the second period to cut
the lead to three points.
Perry opened it back up to eight
on a three point play by Williams
with 3:58 remaining in the half.
Perry led 22-14 at this point but
did not score again in the half.
Please see SQUAWS, Page 9A
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Sterling Hayward drives In for two of his 24 points
against Dodge County's Indians Saturday afternoon.
Perry sports I
Complete coverage of Perry High, Westfield, Recreation leagues & Outdoor news
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Chargers use a 'Little'of everything to capture
Perry's Christmas Crossroads Invitational title
By MARK BLUMEN
Sports Writer
Central Macon's Chargers came
into the Christmas Crossroads
Invitational tournament as the odds
on favorite to win it and they lived
up to their billing Saturday night.
Central look an exciting 103-87
victory over upet-minded Peach
County Trojans.
Marcus Little and Marcus Grant
were a force for the Chargers scor
ing 28 and 31 points between them
and when Coach Dudley Eubanks of
Peach County was asked about
these two people he responded, "We
knew we had to contain them. But
they have others that can hurt you
as well."
Three others to be exact. The en
tire starting unit scored in double
figures as Alvin Kitchens poured in
22, Ennis Washington 12, and
Michael Billingslca added 10.
Peach County jumped out to an
early 2-0 lead. It would be the only
time Peach would lead in the game.
Kitchens hit a 3-pointcr to gel
Central rolling. Peach had lied the
game at six with 5:50 left in the
period, but Central ran off seven
consecutive points and when
Washington nailed two free throws
with two seconds left in the period,
Central had their largest lead at 29-
Jones keys Lady Warriors victory, Natalie
White's efforts leads Peach's comeback bid
By MARK BLUMEN
Sports Writer
Looking to make it two Christ
mas Crossroad Invitational titles in
a row, the Southeast Macon Lady
Warriors look a big lead over Peach
County and held on for an 81-78
victory Saturday night in the
championship game at Perry High
School.
Denise Jones led the way with 39
points including 24 in the second
half.
Southeast led 65-49 early in the
fourth quarter when Peach County
began to mount their comeback.
Wanda Clark hit a layup, Natalie
White hit a 3-pointcr and three
more charily tosses brought Peach
back to within eight at 65-57.
Jones took over again for South
east connecting on twisting, turn
ing, off balance shots.
It seemed that everything she
tossed up at the baskets, they went
I in.
With the Lady Warriors lead at
10, Peach began another desperate
I retaliation.
White ran off seven unanswered
points of her own. Most of hers
were from the perimeter, including
another 3-pointcr that brought the
Peach County following to their
"We knew we had to contain them (Little and Grant) but
they have others that can hurt you as well,"
Peach County Head Coach Dudley Eubanks
15.
Kitchens hit another 3-pointer to
build the lead to 15 at 32-17 and it
looked as if it would be a rout.
But, Peach County started Trent
Parker to get some outside shooting
and it worked.
Parker hit a 3-pointcr and Curtis
Sanders answered with a basket to
trim the lead to 10 points at 32-22.
Peach cut the lead to nine with
12 seconds left, but tournament
Most Valuable Player, Little
showed his stuff. He drove down
the length of the floor and pulled up
with four seconds left. He hit noth
ing but the bottom of the net for
two of his points.
The Chargers were in control and
led 47-36 at intermission.
Parker tried to keep his Trojans
in the game with two 3-pointcrs in
the third period, but Little scored
six points in the period and had
seven assists.
Grant took over on many plays
and when he was intentionally
feet with their Peach County chant.
Lotondra Tennyson pulled the
Lady Trojans within one point at
69-68 with 2:51 remaining in the
contest.
Dcquita Watts silenced the Peach
crowd with a 3-pointcr and Jones
hit again to give a comfortable six
point lead to Southeast.
After a Jones three point play,
She fouled out with 1:37 remain
ing.
Jocelyn Howard connected on two
free throws for Peach County.
Watts was now looked upon to
hold the lead for Southeast.
Unfortunately, she too, had four
fouls and drew her fifth on a charg
ing call bringing the ball up the
floor.
Clark hit a layup and While
nailed two free throws to put Peach
right there knocking at the door.
Peach trailed 77-76 with 49 seconds
left.
Jennifer Maddox nailed two char
ily tosses three seconds later for
Southeast.
Clark again brought Peach within
one with 12 seconds left at 79-78
and the Lady Trojans had a chance
to win the game with a basket after
a turnover by Southeast, but Crys
tal Clark got the rebound and two
Sikes, Hayward combine for 60 points
in leading Perry to their third victory
By MARK BLUMEN
Sports Writer
Ken Sikes and Sterling Hayward
combined for 60 points in leading
the Perry High School Panthers to
a 86-73 victory over the Dodge
County Indians Saturday at Perry
High School.
The battle was for fifth place in
the Christmas Crossroads Invita
tional tournament and for the sec
ond consecutive year Perry had to
play in this game.
But, for the second consecutive
year, Perry won it.
Perry played their game to
perfection after the Indians had
taken the lead early in the first half.
Dodge County was coming off a
110 performance the night before
but did not start BYU signee Craig
Wilcox. Wilcox arrived late and was
benched until 2:25 left in the first
period.
As soon as he entered, Hayward
connected on a 3-poinler, his third
in the period, to give Perry a 13-12
lead.
Arthur Etheridge answered every
Hayward 3-pointcr with one of his
own.
fouled away from the ball Central
had increased the lead to 71-52.
Peach refused to give up and play
dead. The Trojans ran off the next
seven points to close the gap to 12
at 71-59.
A Kitchens 3-pointcr with 5:46
left in the game brought the lead
back up to 19 points at 86-67 and
the Central Macon Chargers could
smell the victory.
With Little and Grant showing
their stuff, the only thing left in
doubt was if the Chargers would
score 100 points.
After Grant connected to make
the score 99-91 with under a minute
and a half remaining, Little pulled
up at the foul line and drilled the
shot.
Little, Kitchens and Grant were
all on the All-tournament team and
Central was the only team with
three representatives on the team.
Peach's Greg Streeter and Kin
Please see CHAMPS, Pago 9A
free throws by the Southeast play
ers sealed the victory. Almost.
White had one last chance to tie the
game and force and overtime. Her
shot just missed at the buzzer.
"We're lucky we had a big lead
when Denise fouled out," said
Southeast Coach Willie Goolsby.
In the first half, Peach managed
to keep it close as well.
Southeast jumped out to a 17-9
lead but the Lady Trojans ran off
eight unanswered points to tie the
game.
The Lady Warriors led 19-17 after
Jones connected for a basket with
six seconds in the quarter.
Southeast look control again
with an 11-4 run, highlighted by
who else, Jones' six points.
Tennyson went to work for Peach
County with a run of her own. She
eight points in the final 4:47 to
pull Peach within four at 37-33
heading into the lockerroom.
The third period belonged all to
Southeast as the Lady Warriors be
gan to break the game open.
The lead was still only three at
47-44 when the Lady Warriors went
on a 14-5 run to close out the quar
ter at 61-47. This set up the amaz-
Please see LADIES, Page 9A
When Sikes connected with 17
seconds left in the first period to
pull Perry within three, Etheridge
again connected to give the Indians
a 22-17 lead.
Sikes scored the first six points
of the second period to give Perry
the lead.
The game was back and forth un
til Marvin Stokeling tied the game
at 32 and Sikes gave the Panthers
the lead.
Two Derrick Edwards free throws
gave Perry a slim but modest four
point lead heading into intermission
at 36-32.
"We got a lift from the perimeter
from Hayward. He hit four three's.
Three in rapid fire,” said Perry High
School Head Coach Carl Thomas.
"Let's be realistic. Some of Dodge
County's players walked in basi
cally at game time. They didn't
have their head on for the ball
game. But, once they were on the
floor, they played hard."
The Panthers put their run at the
opportunity and slow down other-
Please see DODGE, Page 9A