January 21, 2020


Freshman guard JaMichael Wilson puts up a jumper in first half action against Jones. (EC Photo)​

The East Central Community College Lady Warriors dropped a hard-fought 72-68 decision to the No. 11 ranked Jones College Lady Bobcats, while a second half comeback gave the Jones men an 80-76 win over the Warriors in MACJC South Division basketball action Thursday, Jan. 16, at Brackeen-Wood Gym in Decatur.

With the losses, both East Central teams fell to 6-7 overall on the season and 1-3 in MACJC South Division play. The Jones women improved to 10-2 overall and 4-0 in the division. The Bobcats are also 10-2 overall and 2-2 in the South Division.

The Warriors led by as many as nine points in the second half before Jones rallied for the win. Freshman guard Kareem Thompson (Florence, Ala.) led East Central with 17 points and five rebounds. Sophomore forward JaQuarius Smith (Noxubee County) chipped in 16 and freshman guards Lee Cotton (Cleveland Central) and Darien Newchurch (Terry) had 13 and 11 points, respectively. Newchurch also had five assists.

No team led by more than five points in the women’s contest. The score was knotted at 30-30 at the half. Jones led 68-66 late when East Central had three opportunities to tie the game in the final 90 seconds before the Lady Bobcats pulled out the four-point win.

Sophomore guard Jariyah Covington (Starkville) again led the Lady Warriors with 23 points. Sophomore forward Jamaica Almons (Jackson, Murrah) added 14 and sophomore forward KeiMoya Walker (Jackson, Murrah) scored 10.

East Central returns to action on Tuesday, Jan. 21, with a pair of games at Meridian Community College. The Lady Warriors and Lady Eagles will play at 5:30 p.m. and the men will follow at 7:30 p.m. at Graham Gymnasium on the MCC campus.

The Lady Warriors and Warriors return home to host Hinds at 5:30 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. on Thursday, Jan. 23. Both games can be heard on WKOZ Cruisin 98.3 or watched via live stream video at www.eccc.edu/eccc-media.


Sophomore forward Jamaica Almons goes high for two of her 10 points in the four-point loss to Jones. (EC Photo)