March 1 , 2007

 LADY TIGERS CLAIM BACK-TO-BACK STATE TITLES

By Gene Phelps
Daily Journal

WESSON - Northeast's Lady Tigers are glad somebody told Erica Grayson that Thursday's game against Copiah-Lincoln was for a state championship.

"She really didn't know," teammate Whitney Mayes said, then laughed.

It was a better-informed - and jewelry-motivated - Grayson who scored 19 points and grabbed 10 rebounds to lead the Lady Tigers to a 64-51 victory over the host Lady Wolves at Mullen Gym in the MACJC State Tournament championship game.

"I didn't know, really. I just thought we were playing games to get to the regional," a smiling Grayson said outside a joyous Northeast dressing room. "I didn't know we could win a ring.

"I thought, I might need to step it up a little bit.' "

The victory gave Northeast (19-6) its second consecutive state championship and head coach Ricky Ford's ninth at the Booneville-based school.

"This one was a little more exciting to win," said Ford, who lost all five starters off last year's team that qualified for the national tournament. "Where these kids are now, and where they were at the beginning of the year ... it's just unbelievable."

The victory also clinched the Lady Tigers a top seed in next week's NJCAA Region 23 Tournament at Mississippi College in Clinton, where the winner will advance to the national tournament. Northeast will play Meridian at 6 p.m. Tuesday in the opening round.

Co-Lin (25-3), which was ranked No. 10 in the nation earlier this season, also qualified for next week's regional event.

Grayson, defense the key
Ford said Grayson, a 5-foot-11 freshman forward from Corinth, was the difference, along with the Tigers' stingy defensive play.

"Erica played really well. Her better days are ahead of her," he said. "We're looking forward to working with her again next year."

Defensively, Northeast kept Co-Lin's perimeter gunners quiet, especially in the first half.

Co-Lin misfired on its first six field goal attempts and fell behind 6-0 in the opening three minutes of play. In all, the Lady Wolves committed 20 turnovers and shot 30 percent from the field.

"I thought we played a great defensive game," Ford said. "We shut down the things they like to do. We shut down their 3-point shooting the first half."

Co-Lin, trailing 29-23 at halftime, opened the second half by hitting three consecutive 3-pointers, and eventually took the lead at the 15-minute mark and the 10-minute mark.

Northeast, down 44-41, battled back to go ahead, 45-44, on a layup by preseason All-American forward Krystal Robinson with 8:59 remaining. The Lady Tigers never trailed again.

Robinson finished with 13 points.

The Lady Tigers took a 59-49 lead with 2 minutes left on the strength of an 11-3 run. Mayes was a key in the spurt, scoring all seven of her points.

"This was my first state championship," said the excited 5-5 guard, who connected on the crucial free throws in the Tigers' 60-56 semifinals win on Wednesday against rival Itawamba. "This team's come a long way this year. We feel great!"

Nikki Williams scored 12 points to lead Co-Lin. 

Appeared originally in the Northeast Mississippi Daily Journal, 3/2/2007 6:00:00 AM, section D , page 1