January 11, 2022
The East Central Community College Warrior basketball team returned to campus from winter break ready to play in 2022 as the Warriors defeated the Hinds Bulldogs 104-74 to open the new year Monday, Jan. 10.
With the win, ECCC moves to 4-5, 2-1 on the season, while the Bulldogs fall to 2-9, 1-2. The 30-point win was ECCC's second 100-point performance this year as the team defeated Royal Ambassador Prep 114-34 earlier in the season. The Warriors continue MACCC play this week with a trip to Itawamba on Thursday, Jan. 13.
The contest was tied 4-4 in the opening minutes, but a 14-2 ECCC run that was sparked by a Matthew Mackey (Flowood) three-pointer quickly put the game in the Warriors' control. The early scoring burst saw an additional three straight three-pointers as James Granger (DeKalb) hit two and Antwan Hatten (Laurel) nailed one from the corner. The success of the long ball was established early and was a trend for the Warriors throughout the night.
The Warriors continued to pour it on the Bulldogs throughout the first half on the offensive end as ECCC seemed unable to miss. On the defensive end of the floor, the Warriors locked down the Bulldogs and forced numerous turnovers allowing ECCC to build a 33-9 lead with 7:43 remaining in the half. The Hinds offense finally broke through the tough Warrior defense in the closing minutes of the half, but the Warriors were able to take a 20-point, 48-28, lead into the half.
The second half was much of the same as the Warriors' lights-out shooting, from all parts of the floor, continued to build the lead. With seven minutes to go in the contest, the Warriors led by 40, 95-55. The Warriors' offensive production slowed in the final minutes as ECCC let the shot clock drop before attacking the basket. At the buzzer, the Warriors led 104-74.
Demajion Topps (Winona) led the Warriors with 24 points, while Christopher Keys (Quitman) netted 21. An additional four Warriors scored in double-digits with David Berry (Mendenhall) adding 19 on 5-of-8 shooting from beyond the arc, Granger scoring 14 on 4-of-5 shooting from three-point range, Hatten scoring 10, and Mackey scoring 10. Hatten cleaned the glass for ECCC with nine rebounds, while Keys and Anthony Richards (Jackson) both hauled in eight boards. Other notable stats were Topps' team-high eight assists and Mackey's five steals.
As a team, the Warriors shot 46 percent from the floor and a staggering 57 percent (16-of-28) from three-point range, while holding Hinds to just 36 percent from the field and 29 percent from deep. At the free-throw stripe, ECCC was 14-of-17 for 82 percent, a season-high. Hinds edged out the Warriors in rebounds 48-47, but the Warriors forced 28 turnovers while just committing 13.
Thursday's matchup with the Itawamba Indians tips off at 5:30 p.m. in Fulton, and links to the live stream will be made available on ECCC's athletic social media accounts the day of the contest.
