Local

East boys hold on to beat South Point

JAY MILLER, LTN Sports Correspondent

Feb. 20, 2002 - GASTONIA — Corey Howard scored 17 and  Tripp Miller added 16 to help East Lincoln explode in the second half to knock off South Point 72-63  in the first round of the Mid South 3A Boys Conference Tournament.

The Mustangs outscored South Point 39-27 in the second half to win the game to advance.

“We played hard and as a team, plus we played smart.” Said a jubilant Jerel Wingate in explaining the Mustang’s effort.

Corey Howard seconded Wingate’s comments and added, “Everybody was active and moving around. We were all hustling.”

It was déjà vu!

Just like the last meeting between these two Big South 3A teams, the Fighting Mustangs from East Lincoln carried a two point lead, 33-31, into the locker room against the South Point Red Raiders.

But this time the Mustangs carried the momentum in with them as well, thanks to a huge Howard’s 3-pointer as time expired in the half.

However, unlike their last game where South pulled away in the third, this time around the Mustangs built on that momentum.

They dictated the tempo and played their game.

South Point did take the lead in the third but East took care of business in the fourth quarter.

East’s Tyrone Rendleman opened the fourth with a trey as the Mustangs regained the lead 52-50

The Mustangs advanced the score to 55-50 on Wingate’s 3 but South reduced the margin to 55-54 with 3:41 left

East again jumped out by five on a basket by Howard and Blake Ketner’s two-handed power layup, 59-54 at the 2:50 mark.

After East and South swapped several baskets, Wingate was fouled on an inbound play and calmly sank a pair, making the score 65-58 with 50 seconds left.

The Red Raiders quickly connected on a 3-pointer to get within five, 65-61 but with the game on the line, the Mustangs’ Wingate, Ketner and Howard finished out the game making a combined 7-of-10 free throws.

“This is a nice victory for us and we are pleased to advance” said East’s Coach Neil Hodges. “Of course, we will be playing a talented team in Ashbrook on Thursday night, the  No. 3 rated 3A team in the state, at their home.

 “We will have to muster up enough energy to challenge them, as they will be a big challenge for us. That is what athletics teaches you, to get yourself up for the challenge and putting your energy into it. We’ll be ready,” Hodges said.

East will play Ashbrook at Ashbrook, Thursday night at 7:30.

Other top contributors for the Mustangs were Jason Burgess (11 points), Jerel Wingate (10), Tyrone Rendleman (9).

© 2001 Lincoln Times-News  

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