Sports / Outdoors – 11/22/2005

Published 12:00 am Tuesday, November 22, 2005

By Editor

The Panolian: SPORTS – November 22, 2005

  From the 11/22/05 issue of The Panolian     *REVISED*    

  
Tigers get rematch with Columbus
     Cameron Wagner (front) and South Oakes (back) display the sign the cheerleaders and mascots made as the recipe for a return to the state championship game and the win for a 3-peat. South Panola won the 2003 and 2004 state championship trophies with back-to-back perfect season. So far the Tigers are on tap for a third straight ring.
 
By Myra Bean

The South Panola Tiger football team will return to Columbus Friday for the second round of playoffs after handing Vicksburg a sound 41-7 defeat Friday night.

The Tigers kept their 42-game win streak in tact as they held off the Gators with some sound defensive play, despite the cold temperature which had fallen to 40 degrees at the end of the game.

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The Tigers have already defeated Columbus once this year 48-25 on October 14. Columbus rattled off 15 unanswered points to pull within three points, 28-25, in the fourth quarter. The Tiger offense and defense had to flex some muscle and rallied its own string of 20 unanswered points in the fourth quarter for the win.

Junior quarterback Leroy Diggs led the rushers with 125 yards on 13 carries and one touchdown to bring his season total yards to 947. He lacks 53 yards to go over the 1,000 yard season to join teammates Jeramie Griffin with 1,044 yards and Rickey Sanford, 1,280 yards.

Diggs scored on a 49-yard touchdown run and connected with senior wide receiver Rodney Gray on a 49-yard touchdown pass.

Griffin broke the 1,000 yard barrier with 80 yards on 10 carries and two touchdowns, on two and 35-yard runs Friday night.

Sanford added 59 yards to his total on 13 carries and a three-yard touchdown run.

Vicksburg did not score until the fourth quarter with 10:20 left in the game on a three-yard run and extra point kick.

The Tigers did not get started on such as good note as they fumbled their first possession away.

An interception and a fumble recovery by Kevin Young and an interception by Kerry Hoskins of the Tiger defense went a long way in stopping drives by the Gators and set up two touchdowns for the Tigers.

Leading the defense was junior linebacker Chris Strong with five solo tackles and four assists and a fumble recovery.

Marlon Wilks and Young came in with six tackles and Karreem Carr with five.

Charles Corley, Young and Demario Lewis recorded one sack each. Lewis was back in the Tiger lineup for the first time after a sprained knee sidelined him for a few weeks.

When the Tigers got the ball back after the fumble, Sanford scored his three-yard touchdown with 3:01 left in the first quarter.

Senior kicker Barrett Johnson was five of six PATs (point after touchdowns) and has made 40 of 56 this year plus one field goal.

After Young’s sack knocked loose the Vicksburg ball, he recovered the fumble with 5:28 left in the second quarter which led to Griffin’s two-yard touchdown run with 1:04 left in the half.

The Tigers led 14-0 at halftime.

In route to the endzone from the 35-yard line of Vicksburg, Griffin found he had to stiff arm a Gator defender in order to score with 8:29 left in the third quarter.

On the Tigers’ next possession in the third quarter, Diggs did some fancy footwork as he cut to his left, did a little two-step to avoid defenders and sprinted for the 49-yard touchdown with 4:11 left on the clock as the Tigers took a 27-0 lead into the fourth quarter.

Vicksburg scored first in the fourth quarter to cut the lead 27-7 following the PAT.

Then Diggs hooked up with Gray for the 49-yard touchdown pass with 8:12 left in the game for the 34-7 lead after Johnson’s PAT.

Hoskins’ interception came with 7:11 left in the game but the Tigers turned that possession over on downs.

Vicksburg’s next possession ended with Young’s interception as he returned it to the Gators 16 yard line. Young took the long way from the 39 yard line as he started on the west side of the field and ended up on the east side of the field a little closer to the end zone.

That interception set up backup sophomore quarterback Mario Nash’s one-yard touchdown. In fact Nash and senior tightend Isaac Taylor both held onto the ball as they crossed the goal line for the score with 1:24 left in the game.

The winner of the South Panola/Columbus game will take on the winner of the Madison Central/Olive Branch game Friday, December 2 for the north half championship.

Kickoff is 7 p.m.
    

Upsets abounded last week
By Myra Bean

There were some recorded surprises and upsets this past week in high school playoffs.

One being South Panola will take on Columbus who upset the favored Northwest Rankin Friday night 44-38 in one of four north 5A games.

In the other upset of north 5A, Madison Central ended the season of Starkville 27-14. Starkville started off the season with a 9-0 record going into the Oct. 28 game against Olive Branch.

Then the Yellowjackets lost four games in a row and thus 2005 is over for them.

In the college world, Auburn defeated Alabama and ruined their chance to go to the SEC Championship with a 28-18 win. Vanderbilt defeated Tennessee 28-24 for the first time since 1988. Then Memphis beat Southern Miss. 24-22 for the first time in 21 years in Hattiesburg.

The question hangs: will Noel Mazzone be back as the Ole Miss offensive coordinator next year? Coach Ed Orgeron (Coach O) is not answering that one right now.

In the NFL Pittsburgh lost for the second time in overtime to Baltimore 16-13.

The Colts barely survived the fight with the Bengals 45-37.

Tennessee got caught napping and lost the lead and the game 31-28 to the Jaguars.

Tampa Bay sneaked-up and goosed Atlanta 30-27 with a 45 yard field goal with 42 seconds left in the game.

The fourth quarter game of the week had to be the Seahawks and the 49ers as the Seahawks won 27-25.

The 49ers almost won it with 28 seconds left in the game but the two-point conversion failed. The 49ers had trailed most of the game but held the Seahawks scoreless in the fourth as they came up with 13 points to almost pull off the upset.

The 5A playoff bracket is on page B2 but the other playoff games for 4A and 3A are as follows:

4A
     West Point at Clarksdale;
     West Lauderdale at Oxford;
     Wayne County @ Mendenhall;
     West Jones at Terry.

3A
     Cleveland East Side at Senatobia;
     Charleston @ Amory;
     Morton @ South Pike;
     Greene County @ Hazlehurst.

In 2A playoffs, reigning 2A state champ Lumberton will host reigning 1A state champ Mize Friday night.

Ole Miss will be at Mississippi State Saturday for the annual Egg Bowl. Kickoff is 1:30 p.m.
 
NFL needs tougher rules
By William Correro

I usually get invited to the Memphis Touchdown Club every year or so and last Monday’s visit was a good one. Mike Pereira, NFL Supervisor of Officials, was the speaker and he was his typical interesting self. There were some other college officials along with a few high school and one NFL Replay Official in attendance. The best was hearing Pereira again say how he really hates all the celebrations one sees in the NFL. If it were up to him the rules would be just as they are in NCAA rules now. He’s one of the real purists of the game like most all in stripes are.

My SEC boss was instrumental in getting the celebration rules edited to include the specific acts that are prohibited. Besides the "any planned act designed to focus attention on one player" there are 17 specific acts included. Items such as a throat-slash or shooting-the-guns are some that were listed.

If you watch a game and a player looks as if he is about to do the Iggy Shuffle, we will get to him and move him along. We try to get to them and prevent anything that will cause them to have to do the try from the 18 yard-line. It’s one of those fouls you really hate to call but if they do all that in front of God and everyone else we have no other choice. It’s a very fine line on whether or not to call a foul or not.

I was caught by surprise just after the national anthem at the LSU at Alabama game last week. I’ve been around the block a few times but I was just facing the wrong way when the fly-over happened. No one was watching my six-o’clock. As the F-16’s were just overhead they lit the afterburners and headed upward like homesick angels. Those are always so cool but it’s just over too quick.

I hope everyone has a very happy Thanksgiving and gets to spend a lot of good family time together. Just be careful and pace yourself in the eating. It’s lot better to go real slow like we do when sorting out a foul situation. Just be thankful for all your blessings. I am for sure. See you next week.
Hoop Tigers demolish tournament foes
By Myra Bean

The South Panola Tigers competed in the J.Z. George Invitational Basketball Tournament and walked away the clear cut winners.

After the Tigers got started in each of their games, they didn’t have any anxious moments or have to stage any comeback wins.

The Tigers defeated each team by at least 29 points.

Against Winona Wednesday night the Tigers won 61-27. Thursday night they downed Montgomery county 80-31. The team they had the most trouble with was J.Z. George Saturday in the championship game. South Panola won 56-27.

Against Winona the Tigers jumped out to an 18-0 first quarter lead and led 35-9 at halftime. Going into the fourth quarter, the Tigers led 55-19.

Joseph Hankins was the game’s high scorer with 14 points which included two slam dunks, five rebounds, a steal and a block.

Tiger Anthony Nelson chipped in 12 points, four rebounds, a steal and a block.

Also scoring in double figures was Shawn Daniel with 10 points, an assist, seven rebounds and four blocks.

Larico Treadwell scored seven points, nine rebounds and an assist.

In the game with Montgomery County, the Tigers had a 22-7 lead at the end of the first quarter and led 49-13 at halftime.

Hankins was again the game’s high scorer with 17 points and five rebounds. Nelson had 14 points, eight rebounds, three steals and an assist. Larico Treadwell left with a double/double night of 12 points, 10 rebounds and one steal.

Daniel came in with 10 points, five rebounds, four assists, four blocks and three steals.

In the championship match, J.Z. George held the Tigers close in the first quarter and it ended tied at six.

The Tigers adjusted in the second quarter and outscored J.Z. George 16-10 to take a 22-16 halftime lead.

South Panola was back on track in the third quarter as they outscored J.Z. George 16-5 for a 38-21 third quarter lead.

Cordell Austin was the game’s high scorer with 14 points, which included two slam dunks, one rebound and four steals.

Hankins was the only other Tiger in double figures with 10 points and seven rebounds.

Rod Moore helped the Tigers with his six points, six steals, five assists and one rebound.

Other scorers for the three days of tournament include Rod Moore, 14 points, 11 assists, 3 rebounds and 11 steals;

Justin Vaughn, 12 points, 8 assists, 6 rebounds 2 steals, 1 block;

Nick Johnson, 6 points, 5 assists, 3 rebounds, 1 steal;

Jarred Pope, 14 points, 10 assists, 7 rebounds, 5 steals, 3 blocks;

Shawn Daniel, 22 points, 5 assists, 14 rebounds, 5 steals, 8 blocks;

Larico Treadwell, 27 points, 1 assists, 27 rebounds, 2 steals;

Cordell Austin, 24 points, 2 assists, 2 rebounds, 7 steals;

Anthony Nelson, 28 points, 1 assists, 13 rebounds, 6 steals, 1 block;

and Joseph Hankins, 41 points, 17 rebounds, 2 steals and 2 blocks.

The Tigers lost to Tupelo last Monday night 58-47. Tupelo jumped out to a 27-15 halftime lead. The Tigers tried climbing back into the game and were partly successful. Tupelo kept the lead just out of reach of the Tigers as the second half of play intensified.

The third quarter was close in scoring as Tupelo outscored the Tigers 17-14 for a 44-29 third quarter lead. The Tigers outscored Tupelo 16-14 in the final quarter but that was not enough to make up the deficit.

Hankins was the only Tiger to score in double figures with 10 points, followed by Justin Vaughn and Shawn Daniel with seven points each.

The teams are taking Thanksgiving break and will return to action Tuesday November 29 to host Oxford beginning at 5 p.m.
  

Five new starters lead Green Wave
By Myra Bean

Bringing in a new coach, the North Delta basketball team did not know what to expect.

Brad Wilson does: results.

"We may have to scrap for every game," the first year head coach said. "We have to come every night and play until the buzzer sounds."

The North Delta boys basketball team started the season with a 3-0 record ? without any returning starters.

All the starters from last year’s team graduated. Though some of this year’s starters played last year, they were not part of the top five.

Wilson is excited about the play of the Green Wave defense through the first three games.

The game against Magnolia Heights played last night was not included as the scores were not available at press time.

Wilson uses the pressure defense at the beginning of most of his games, he said.

"Sometimes it works and sometimes it doesn’t," he said.

The Green Waves were able to get a 10 to 12-point lead over the last two teams with that strategy.

Even though it does work, Wilson is only working with 10 players on the team and said he does not want to wear them out.

"We can only go up and down the court well like that for three or four times," he said.

On the offensive side, Wilson said that sometimes they get too team-oriented and pass the ball around too much and turn it over.

"Then we settle back into half court," he said.

Wilson gave some high points about the team members.

Nathanael Abernethy stands at 6’4" tall and leads in rebounds.

Dakota Mabry is 6’1".

"He’s a monster on the court," Wilson said.

Jacob Gurley comes "hard and quick," according to Wilson.

Brandon White, Heath Reed, Forrest Wilbanks and Evan West are his "hustle" guys.

"They dive for loose balls and chase them," Wilson said. "That’s what we need to be successful."

Wilson named as his relief guys Jim Tom Dalrymple, Austin Boling and Seth Barnett.

"I enjoy seeing what they will do to win," Wilson said. "We get the fundamentals and we get the job done. We are proud of them."

At least three to four seniors start every game, according to Wilson. Reed and White are battling out that fifth starter spot. Right now they are trading off each game who gets to start.

"Both come to practice every day and work hard," Wilson said. "Both contribute a whole lot to the team."

Looking to the future of the season, Wilson said he have the highest expectations for his team, like any other coach.

"There’s lot of room for improvement," Wilson said, "I am excited about what is in store."

One could feel the new coach’s excitement as he bragged about his team.

The Green Waves will christen their newly renovated gymnasium with a home game with Lee, Ark. Monday, November 28 beginning at 4 p.m.
    

Lady Tigers dig deep to win trophy
By Myra Bean

Eking out as the champions is the best Lady Tiger head coach Ralph Stallings could say about the play of the Lady Tigers in the J.Z. George Tournament last week.

He was glad they were wins but he called them "ugly."

"In the championship game, where we should have won by 20 we barely won," Stallings said. "We did not play well."

Saturday, the Lady Tigers took on J.Z. George for the championship and won 40-38.

The two teams were sweating it out. J.Z. George led at the end of the first quarter 10-9. Defense was tough on both sides as J.Z. George outscored the Lady Tigers in the second quarter to take an 18-14 halftime lead.

The Lady Tigers turned that four points around as they outscored J.Z. George 12-8 in the third to tie the game at 26 going into the fourth quarter. With a 14-12 quarter, the Lady Tigers were able to bring about the championship win.

Courtney N. Jones scored 11 points to lead the lady Tigers followed by Shanice Williams with eight.

In action Wednesday night, the Lady Tigers defeated Winona 43-38. Thursday, the Lady Tigers defeated Montgomery County 43-30.

The Lady Tigers led 28-11 at halftime against Winona.

Winona came back in the second half and outscored the Lady Tigers 17-15 to counter the lead.

Kim Sanford was the game’s high scorer with 14 points, followed by Sabrina Townsend with 11 points.

Thursday, the first half with Montgomery County was pretty close as the Lady Tigers led 15-10 at halftime. After halftime, a new Lady Tiger team emerged and held Montgomery scoreless in the third quarter as it rallied scoring 11 points.

Montgomery tried to overcome that 26-10 fourth quarter deficit in the fourth as both teams heated up the net. South Panola outscored Montgomery 17-15 to maintain the win.

Townsend was the game’s high scorer with 13 points, followed by Kim Sanford with nine points.

Scoring in the tournament were Tenisha Mitchell 8 points; Sabrina Townsend, 31 points; Shanice Williams, 12 points; N. Jones, 21 points; Kim Sanford, 29 points; Stalisha Cole, 2 points; Jessica Govan, 3 points; Vetorra Cole, 12 points; Skylar Barnes, 4 points; Tierra Gleaton, 2 points; and Courtney D. Jones, 2 points.

The Lady Tigers lost to Oxford 70-43 last Monday night. the Lady Tigers took a hit and were down 44-19 at the half.

The Lady Tigers were led by Raquel Burdette, Skylar Barnes and N. Jones with six points each.

After the Thanksgiving holiday, the Lady Tigers return home to host Oxford Tuesday November 29. Games begin at 5 p.m.
 
                                         
                         
 
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