North Teams Claim Victories In MACJC All-Star Basketball Games

North teams dominated the annual Mississippi Association of Community and Junior Colleges (MACJC) All-Star Basketball Games held Friday night at Choctaw Central High School in Choctaw.

In the women’s contest, the North All-Stars held on for a 79-77 win as the South’s rally from a 21-point halftime deficit fell short, and the North men cruised to a 136-117 victory.

The North women were in control during first-half action and led 48-27 at the break. The South mounted an impressive rally in the second half and Mystee Dale of East Central tied the contest at 75 with 2:23 remaining. Key free throws by Itawamba’s Sanqueeta Meardith gave the North squad a 79-76 advantage with 16.2 seconds remaining, but Johnneshia Pineda of Pearl River narrowed the South deficit to 79-77 by making one of two free throws with 10.9 seconds left. After Meardith missed both free throws with seven seconds remaining, the South had another opportunity but the 5-4 guard stole the ball with one second left to clinch the victory.

Cierra Thomas of Northwest led the North with 15 points and was named most valuable player. Also scoring for the North were Jasmine Abrams of East Miss., 11; Meardith, 10; Courtney Cannon of Itawamba and Ebony Crayton of Northeast, nine each; Kottia White of East Miss., six; Courtney O’Briant of Holmes, five; Kim Anderson of Holmes, four; Jessica Ayers of Delta and Jessica Collins of Itawamba, three each; and Normanique Johnson of Northwest, two.

LaCole Brooks of Coahoma served as head coach.

Dale was the South’s top scorer with 15 points. Other point makers were Savannah Palomarez of Gulf Coast, 13; Teanna Carter of Jones County, 11; Rashima Jenkins of East Central, nine; Teairra Wilbert, eight, and Rhonda Dumas, seven, both of Copiah-Lincoln; Pineda, five; Tiffany Williams of Hinds, four; and Demara Bolton of Jones County, three.

Gwyn Young of Copiah-Lincoln was head coach.

In the men’s game, the North held a 77-51 advantage at halftime and cruised to the easy victory. The North was led by Tensley Coleman of Northwest, who pumped in 26 points and was chosen most valuable player. Also scoring were Kevin Harris of Northwest, 17; Gary Dixon of Itawamba, 16; Terrance Washington of Delta, Darian Donald of East Miss., and William Burdette of Northeast, 12 each; Theron Jenkins of Itawabama, 11; Jejuan Jacks of Coahoma, 10; Woodie Howard of East Miss., eight; Jason Marks of Itawamba, four; Al Graham, three, and Diamon Alexander, two, both of Holmes.

Ira Peterson of Coahoma served as head coach.

Trent Hutchin of Copiah-Lincoln led the South with 23 points. Also scoring were Justin Ray of Gulf Coast, 13; Robin Wallace of Copiah-Lincoln, Brian Singleton of Jones County and Josh Luckett of East Central, 12 each; Courtney Nelson of Hinds and Cordell Pope of Gulf Coast, 10 each; Otis Smith of Southwest and Donte Smith of Pearl River, eight each; Corey Breland of Jones County, four; Isaiah Jackson of Gulf Coast, three; and Marlon Ester of Hinds, two.

Dennis Sims of Copiah-Lincoln was head coach.

The MACJC All-Star Basketball Games are sponsored by the Pearl River Resort, Mississippi Band of Choctaw Indians, Pepsi, Mississippi Sports Medicine and East Central Community College in Decatur.