January 11, 2019


Sharan Turner, a sophomore forward from Gonzales, La., powers up a jump shot in the East Central overtime win over Pearl River. (EC Photo)

Sophomore forward Sharan Turner scored seven of her game-high 17 points in overtime to power the East Central Community College Lady Warriors to a 75-67 win over the Pearl River Lady Wildcats in MACJC South Division basketball action Jan. 10 in Brackeen-Wood Gym in Decatur. The No. 17 ranked Pearl River men overpowered the Warriors in the second game with a 99-66 win.

The women’s game was close throughout with the scored tied on a dozen occasions, with 18 lead changes. East Central led 34-30 at the half, before the Lady Wildcats took the lead in the third period and led most of the second half.

Two free throws by Turner (Gonzales, La., East Ascension) with under two minutes to play in regulation gave East Central a 61-60 lead. Pearl River’s Gabby Brown hit a layup with seven seconds to play to help the Lady Wildcats regain the lead at 62-61. East Central sophomore forward Whitney Waters out of Heidelberg was fouled with 6.1 seconds to play and made one of two free throws to tie the game at 62-62.

The Lady Warriors would steal the inbounds pass with three seconds to play but were unable to get a shot off before the final buzzer.

In overtime, East Central outscored Pearl River 13-5, including Turner’s seven points and a big three-point shot from Waters in front of the Lady Warriors’ bench.

Waters ended the game with 14 points, seven rebounds, and two steals. Freshman guard KeiMoya Walker (Jackson, Murrah) was also in double figures with 11 points. Sophomore forward Diamond Wraggs of Louisville pulled-down a game-high 10 rebounds, while freshman forward Timia Dora also of Louisville had three of the Lady Warriors’ five blocks in the win.

With the win, the ECCC Lady Warriors improved to 10-1 overall and 1-1 in MACJC South Division play. The Pearl River Lady Wildcats are now 7-3 overall and 1-1 in the league.

It was all Pearl River in the men’s contest, as the Wildcats led by as many as 20 in the first half before taking a 48-33 lead to the locker room.

Freshman guard Nick Preyer (Mobile, Ala., Leflore) had a big night for the Warriors with 20 points, including three of four from beyond the three-point circle. Freshman forward JaQuarius Smith of Noxubee County had 14 points and six boards. Freshman guard Devin Carter of Pearl added 10 points for the Warriors.

East Central shot just 37 percent from the floor for the game, while the visitors hit nearly 60 percent of their shots.

The loss dropped the Warriors to 7-4 overall and 0-2 in South Division play. Pearl River remained undefeated at 11-0 and 2-0.

The ECCC Warriors and Lady Warriors will remain home to host Copiah-Lincoln on Monday, Jan. 14, in Brackeen-Wood Gym in Decatur. The women tipoff at 5:30 p.m. and the men at 7:30 p.m. It will be Be Our Guest night for high school students in Scott County who will be admitted free.

Following that action, the East Central teams will travel to Ellisville to face Jones College in games set for 5:30 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. on Thursday, Jan. 17.


Sophomore forward Diamond Wraggs of Louisville pulls down one of her game-high 10 rebounds against Pearl River. (EC Photo)


East Central freshman guard Nick Preyer drives the lane in first half action against Pearl River. (EC Photo)