Pictured above-Northeast Mississippi Community College assistant basketball coach Maurice Stafford (from left) and Doc Johnson (Ripley), head basketball coach David Robbins, William Burdette (New Albany), Andre Southern (Yazoo County), Rictavian Knight (Shelby), Charles Mitchell (Marion, La.).

NORTHEAST BUMPED OUT OF POSTSEASON BY COAHOMA

BOONEVILLE, Miss. -- Coahoma spoiled the chances of Northeast landing a spot in the Mississippi Association of Community/Junior College’s (MACJC) 2009 state tournament by defeating the home standing Tigers 80-73 on Monday night.

It was a bittersweet night for head coach David Robbins and his staff.

On an evening where sophomores were honored before the game, Northeast was unable to send its upper classmen off on a winning note after losing to Coahoma in the MACJC North Division match-up at Bonner Arnold Coliseum.

“We were not able to make the plays down the stretch,” Robbins said. “I am disappointed for our team and especially our sophomores.”

Sophomores honored included Andre Southern (Yazoo County), Rictavian Knight (Shelby), Doc Johnson (Ripley), William Burdette (New Albany), and Charles Mitchell (Marion La.) all whom received basketballs from Northeast Mississippi Community College Head Men’s Basketball Coach David Robbins and assistant basketball coach Maurice Stafford.

Burdette led the Tigers with a double-double in his final performance at Bonner Arnold Coliseum finishing with 18 points and 10 rebounds and was perfect from the charity stripe hitting 8-of-8.

Mitchell enjoyed a solid evening as well in his last game in front of the home crowd dropping 12 points, pulling down seven boards, and shooting 6-of-8 from the free throw line.

With Burdette and Mitchell’s help, Northeast was able to go into the locker room at the half leading by two on a score of 31-29. 

However, in the second half, Coahoma came out on fire, shooting 16-of-27 from the floor and 4-out-of-10 (40-percent) from downtown and held the lead until the 10-minute mark in the half 50-48.

Maquise Mems led the charge for Coahoma dropping 22 points and dishing out four assists followed by JeJuan Jacks who drained 20 points shooting 5-of-12 from the floor.

In the final two minutes of the contest, Coahoma pulled away from Northeast as Jacks would hit 1-of-2 free throws to put Coahoma up by seven (78-71). 

As the clock ticked down to zero, Northeast fired up a half-court shot that fell short along with their hopes of sliding into the postseason as Coahoma prevailed on a final score of 80-73.

Northeast will be on the road on Thursday, February 19 as they travel to Scooba to face the East Mississippi Lions in their last north division match-up of 2009. Tip-off is set for 7:30 p.m. for the Tigers.

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