October 30, 2009

NORTHEAST BASKETBALL TEAMS OPEN
SEASONS AGAINST RANKED OPPONENTS

BOONEVILLE, Miss. –  Northeast Mississippi Community College’s men and women’s basketball team opens their seasons against ranked opponents on Nov. 2 and Nov. 5, respectively.

David Robbins’ Tigers open the season on Monday, November 2 in Hanceville, Ala., where Northeast will battle the sixth-ranked Wallace State Community College Lions who have two National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA) pre-season All-Americans on their roster.

Gaither Hendrix, who was named an All-American after the 2008-09 season following a 29.0 points per game campaign, returns for the Lions as a third-team pre-season All-American while Darrick Thomas, who almost averaged a double-double last year (11.5 points/9.1 rebounds a game), returns for the Lions that finished the 2008-09 year 28-5.

Robbins will counter Wallace State-Hanceville’s pre-season All-Americans with size – returning for the Tigers will be big man Chris Gamble (New Albany) who averaged 9.64 points a game for the Tigers.

Northeast has also added Emmanuel Ezejiofo (Raymond), Kayo Taylor (Orlando, Fla.), LaBrandon Scruggs (Corinth), Tyrie Berry (Blue Mountain) and redshirt Dominique Hunt (Portsmouth, Va.) to go along with returners Bruce Jacobs (Horn Lake) and Spence Wicks (Booneville) for size on the court. All eight including Gamble measure over 6-4.

Ricky Ford’s Lady Tigers also opens their season with a ranked opponent but in the friendly confines of the freshly renovated Bonner Arnold Coliseum.
Northeast will face Northwest Shoals (Ala.) in the home opener for both Northeast basketball teams on Thursday, November 5.

Northwest Shoals enters the 2009-10 season just outside the nation’s top 25 – one spot below North Idaho College in the 26th position. The Lady Patriots finished the 2008-09 season with a 23-6 record and return a core group of players.
Erin Parrish (Corinth) and Jasmine Horne return in the guard slots for the Lady Patriots while Charnise Mitchell – who played at Northeast last year – will suit up for Northwest Shoals in a return match-up against her former club during the home opener.

Ford answers with a trio of guards of his own – Ranisha Williams (Pontotoc), Al’Lisha Hudson (Charleston) and Rumae Butler (Belmont) – all of whom saw significant playing time last year will help lead the Northeast high-paced offense.
With the addition of speedsters, Chelsey Whitaker (Alcorn Central) and Tatum Lewis (Alcorn Central) along with a pair of Arkansas signees – Brytnee Basemore and Faadiah Tramble, both of Osceloa, Ark., the Lady Tigers will look to match up with anyone they play this season.

The Tiger and Lady Tiger 2009-10 regular season basketball games and all postseason contests are set for live broadcasting by TeleSouth Communications of Tupelo, WXWX-FM 96.3 (ESPN Radio), and via the internet at the Northeast athletic website http://www2.nemcc.edu/Athletics/INDEX_new.html by clicking on “Listen Live”.

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