December 6, 2019


Freshman guard Kareem Thompson scored 22 points, including four three-pointers, in the loss to East Mississippi. (EC Photo)

The homecourt was no friendlier to the East Central Community College basketball teams as the Lady Warriors and Warriors were swept by their rivals from East Mississippi for the second time this season in non-division action Thursday, Dec. 5, in Brackeen-Wood Gym in Decatur.

The EMCC Lady Lions won the opener 67-43, while the Lions beat the Warriors 90-77 in the men’s game.

The teams from EMCC also swept East Central back on Nov. 14 in Scooba, with the Lady Lions winning 73-57 and the Warriors falling to the Lions 88-85.

In the women’s matchup, East Central led throughout the first half and took at 29-26 lead into the locker room. The Lady Warriors led by as many as a dozen in the first two periods.

EMCC didn’t get its first lead until midway through the third period, and then blew the game open. The Lady Warriors managed only two points in the third period and were outscored 41-14 in the second half in the 67-43 loss.

Sophomore guard Jariyah Covington (Starkville) scored 17 points to lead the Lady Warriors for the fourth straight contest. She was the only East Central player in double figures.

The ECCC Lady Warriors fall to 4-4 on the season, while the Lady Lions are now 7-2.

In the men’s game, East Mississippi led from start to finish in picking up the 13-point win. The Lions used a 15-0 run in the first half to break a 10-10 tie. East Central used a 12-2 run of its own to pull to within 28-26 before the Lions moved to a 43-31 halftime lead.

East Mississippi quickly built its lead to 27 points to start the second half. The Warriors were able to get as closes as 10 in the final 20 minutes.

Sophomore forward JaQuarius Smith (Noxubee County) led East Central with 24 points, including 12 of 16 from the free throw line. Freshman guard Kareem Thompson (Florence, Ala.) scored 22 and hit four three-point shots. East Central hit 12 threes in the loss.

The ECCC Warriors are now 4-4 on the 2019-20 season. The EMCC Lions improve to 7-3.

The East Central teams return to action Monday, Dec. 9, when they travel to Perkinston to face Mississippi Gulf Coast in MACJC South Division games. The women play at 5:30 p.m. and the men at 7:30 p.m.

The final action before the holiday break will take place Tuesday, Dec. 17, when Delgado (New Orleans, La.) visits Brackeen-Wood Gym for games at 5:30 p.m. and 7:30 p.m.


Sophomore guard Jariyah Covington drives for two of her 17 points to lead the ECCC Lady Warriors against East Mississippi. (EC Photo)