Strickland, MCC shock Northeast

By Jeff Edwards / assistant sports editor
The Meridian Star

CLINTON — Meridian Lady Eagle coach Hilary Allen continuously touts NaDosha Strickland as one of the top junior college women’s players in Mississippi.

Tuesday night, in the quarterfinals of the Region 23 Tournament, she lived up to the billing.

Strickland scored 32 points, including hitting the game-tying 3 at the end of regulation and the game-winning free throws with 0.8 seconds left in overtime to carry MCC to a stunning 82-81 overtime win over MACJC state champion Northeast Mississippi.

“I told her back in October in our fourth practice that she would hit a game-winning shot at some point in time,” Allen said. “I didn’t know when it would happen, but I knew she’d have the chance and it would be up to her to convert.”

Meridian (16-10) trailed 68-65 after Northeast’s Krystal Robinson made one of two free throws with 11.2 seconds left in regulation. The Lady Eagles hurried the ball down the court for Carla Latham to shoot a quick 3. Latham missed, but Strickland grabbed the offensive rebound, ran back behind the 3-point line and nailed a desperation shot from the corner as the horn sounded.

“I couldn’t believe it went in,” Strickland said. “I work on my 3s in practice but I’m not as routine as the other 3-point shooters on the team.”

Northeast (19-7) recovered after Strickland’s shot and led throughout overtime, taking a 81-77 lead with 16.3 seconds left on two free throws by Whitney Mayes.

However, Latham kept hope alive for MCC when she nailed a 3 from the top of the key with 6.3 seconds remaining to cut the lead to one. The Lady Eagles then forced a jump ball after the inbounds pass, with the possession arrow pointing their way with 3.9 left.

Strickland took the inbounds pass and went baseline where she was fouled with 0.8 seconds remaining. Northeast called two consecutive timeouts to try to ice her, but Allen knew the game was over.

“I told the team (in the huddle) that I’ve got the kid I want shooting free throws.”

Strickland made that faith pay off, coolly swishing both attempts to give MCC the stunning win over the defending Region 23 champions.

“I shoot them everyday in practice,” Strickland said. “I had missed some earlier but I just did what I do every day in practice.”

The fact Meridian was even in the game at the end was something of a surprise. The Lady Eagles trailed by 10 points at halftime and Northeast stretched the lead to 50-35 with 13:05 remaining.

However, MCC went on a 13-2 run to trim the deficit to 52-48 with 8:30 left and stayed in a holding pattern the rest of the way.

“We never gave up,” Strickland said. “We don’t have any big players but we hustle after every loose ball and rebound. We may be little, but we never give up.”

Northeast had numerous opportunities to put the game away in the final minutes, but failed at the free throw line. The Lady Tigers were only 7-of-14 from the line in the final 6 minutes of the game and only 4-of-8 in the final minute.

“Down the stretch, we didn’t put it away,” Northeast coach Ricky Ford said. “We didn’t have that killer instinct. You miss seven free throws, you can’t expect to win a game.”

In addition to Strickland’s 32 points and 10 rebounds, Meridian’s Anesia McBride had 21 points and Jennifer Wair 16. Erica Grayson led Northeast with 20 points.

Meridian now advances to tonight’s semifinal game at 8 p.m. against South Division rival Jones — which beat Mississippi Delta 89-77 Tuesday.

For the Lady Eagles, the win was sweet redemption for the close games they’ve lost. MCC lost two games in overtime in the regular season, as well as two games by two points and another game by four points.

“You say we’ve lost a lot of close games this year and that’s true,” Allen said. “But NaDosha Strickland has taken the big shots in those close games and was getting herself prepared for tonight.”