MCC flies past Genesis One

The Meridian Community College Eagles got a solid performance off the bench from Thomas Brown and great second-half perimeter shooting to fly away with a 117-71 win against Genesis One on Wednesday night.

Meridian improved to 10-9 with the win and MCC coach George Brooks was pleased with the performance of his team, which had dropped three of its last four games entering the contest against Genesis One on Wednesday night.

"This was a great win for us and we had great play from lots of different guys on the floor tonight," Brooks said. "We struggled a little shooting from perimeter in the first half, but I was happy that we held them to only 71 points considering the speed of the game all night."

The Eagles came out with a hot hand and held an early 5-0 lead in the opening two minutes of play. Tommy Tillman and Mario Luckett drained a pair of baskets to give MCC the quick lead over Genesis One. MCC never trailed in the game and later extended its lead to 23-9 thanks to an impressive 10-0 run by the Eagles. Brown led the scoring run for MCC with six points off the bench which put MCC up by double digits for the rest of the game.

"I thought our bench play tonight was key in the first half," Brooks said. "He (Brown) really came off the bench and did some great things for us on offense and he also pulled some big rebounds that led to points for us."

Brown finished the game with 12 points off the bench in the win for MCC and all 12 of his points came in the first half. The Eagles led Genesis One 49-31 at the end of the first half and MCC continued to pull away in the second half. Otis Williams attempted nine 3-pointers in the first half and only drained one shot, but the second half was much different for the sophomore guard.

Williams hit four straight 3-pointers in the first seven minutes of the second half to give MCC a 66-31 lead over Genesis One.

"He got some good open looks in the first half, but couldn't connect," Brooks said. "I was proud to see him continue to keep shooting the ball and things turned around for him in the second half. We got some good looks all night and I hope that will start to build our confidence up heading in the final games of the regular season."

Williams finished the night with a game-high 20 points and Luckett also had a solid performance in the win for MCC with 17 points. Travis Thompson also reached double figures with 14 points and former Lamar standout Drake Nosco added eight points off the bench for the Eagles. Charly Dankwa chipped with eight points off the bench as well for MCC.

Nico Norris led the way in the scoring for Genesis One with 19 points.

MCC returns to action Saturday against Shreveport at the Graham Gymnasium. The MCC women tip off at 2 p.m. with the MCC men to follow at 4 p.m.

MCC’s season opener canceled

Meridian Community College's 2009 baseball season-opener has been canceled according to MCC head coach Chris Rose.

The Eagles were slated to take on Bossier (La.) Parish Sunday at MCC's Scaggs Field in a 1 p.m. doubleheader. But Rose said Bossier was forced to cut travel by the school's administration and the games have been canceled.

Meridian will now open its season Feb. 4 at Jones County Junior College in a doubleheader beginning at 1 p.m. in Ellisville.

A four-game trip to Fort Walton, Fla., and Monroeville, Ala., follows. The Eagles' home-opener is now slated for Feb. 13, when MCC hosts Southeastern Illinois and Wabash in a split doubleheader beginning at noon.

MCC women rebound at Georgia Perimeter

from staff reports

The Meridian Community College women's basketball team bounced back from its second-half collapse Thursday against Jones County to down host Georgia Perimeter 71-58 on Saturday.

The Lady Eagles (13-6) flew out to a 42-32 halftime lead before holding Georgia Perimeter to just 26 points in the second half. Against the Lady Bobcats on Thursday, MCC allowed a 12-point lead in the first half evaporate in a 72-69 loss.

However, with former Kemper County standout Brittany Bohannon leading four Lady Eagles in double figures, there was no letdown Saturday. Bohannon scored 13 to lead a balanced MCC attack. Valencia Rice and Jerrika Williams added 11 points each and Sharda'e Johnson scored 10.

MCC continues its road trip today at Horizon.

Tale of two halves: Jones County battles back to down MCC

By Chris Brennaman / Assistant Sports Editor

Jones County 72
Meridian women 69

With Meridian Community College leading by as many as 12 points late in the first half, nobody in Graham Gymnasium on the MCC campus could have predicted that the Lady Eagles would have to attempt a 3-pointer in the closing seconds to try to force overtime.

Tiara Parker's 3-point attempt from the right wing with 5 seconds on the clock fell short, leaving the Lady Eagles on the losing end of a 72-69 decision Thursday night.

"This was a story of two different halves," said MCC coach Hilary Allen. "We played one of our best first halves of the season, but came out as a completely different team in the second half."

Meridian, which shot 42 percent from the field in the opening 20 minutes, used a 12-2 run to distance itself from Jones over a 4-minute span in the first half. The Lady Eagles stretched their lead to 12 points on three occasions before taking a six-point lead into the locker room.

The cushion could have been much bigger, but Meridian failed to capitalize on many of the Lady Bobcats' 19 first-half turnovers.

"To get as many steals as we did — and they lost the ball so many other times — we have to take those on fastbreaks and score those easy baskets. That's what we do best, but we didn't do that tonight."

Parker, a former Meridian High standout, scored 14 of her game-high 24 points in the first half on 6-of-10 shooting.

In the second half, Parker opened the scoring with a basket before Jones ripped off six straight points in 40 seconds to close the gap to two with just under 2 minutes off the clock.

The Lady Eagles pushed the lead back to nine on the first of Parker's two 3-pointers at the 12:25 mark.

TeAnna Carter ended Jones' 0-for-15 shooting slump with a bucket 31 seconds later.

Jones (13-4) kept clawing its way back bringing the deficit to four points with 8:38 to play.

Meridian quickly answered with a layup by former Kemper County Lady Wildcat Brittany Bohannon. She was fouled on the play, but was unable to convert the free throw — a sign of what was ahead for the Lady Eagles.

From that point, MCC missed 12 of its last 15 shots of the game and four free throws as Jones took its first lead of the game on two of Demara Bolton's team-leading 20 points with 5:36 showing on the clock.

To secure the victory, the Lady Bobcats held off an MCC surge, which tied the game on six straight points — a three-point play by LaQuita Burrough and a 3-pointer by Parker.

With 53 ticks left, Tiara Logan — a former Philadelphia star — brought the Lady Eagles back to within a point on a 3-pointer.

A pair of free throws by Erica Moore left MCC with three points to make up and 12 seconds on the clock, but Parker was unable to sink the game-tying basket.

"I give Jones County credit," Allen said. "Particularly in the second half, they made some big shots."

Bohannon finished with 13 points for the Lady Eagles, while Natonya McWilliams had 12.

The loss snapped a two-game winning streak for Meridian, which fell to 12-6.


Jones County 104
Meridian men 56

Meridian was only able to keep the high-powered offense of Jones County in check for 13 1/2 minutes Thursday night.

The Eagles (9-9) trailed by six when JCJC (15-2) started a 16-1 run late in the first half.

A dozen of the points in the stretch came on a trio of 3-pointers from Will Poole, who connected on a total of six on the night and totaled a game-high 23 points.

Trenton Marshall, a First-Team NJCAA Preseason All-American, scored a 22 points for the Bobcats, who topped the century mark for the second consecutive outing and won their sixth straight game.

Brandon Wilson added 14 for Jones.

The Eagles were led by Mario Luckett, who had 19 points in the contest. Travis Thompson followed with eight points.

Eagles eye Colorado in '09

(MERIDIAN, Miss.) – Twenty-five games at Scaggs Field and a trip to the prestigious Northwest Florida Tournament highlight a challenging 2009 Meridian Community College baseball schedule announced this week by fourth-year MCC head baseball coach Chris Rose.

The Eagles usher in the ’09 season at home with a doubleheader versus Bossier-Parrish on Feb.1.

Then the Eagles travel south for seven road games in seven days.

MCC’s first stop is in Laurel, MS to play former MACJC rival, Jones County in a doubleheader on Feb. 4.

The Eagles will then play in their first of three tournaments on the season at the prestigious Northwest Florida Tournament in Ft. Walton, FL on Feb. 6-8. There, the Eagles will face Alabama Southern, host-Northwest Florida State and Shelton State. MCC will then travel back north to face Alabama Southern for a doubleheader in Monroeville, AL on Feb. 10, thus completing their first major road trip.

“We have put together a very challenging schedule for 2009. Opening with Baton Rouge will be a very strong challenge,” said MCC head coach, Chris Rose.

“Then on the road to a much improved Jones, and a NWF tournament that have four teams all of which are nationally known. Needless to say we will be tested early on. The schedule should help us understand what we have.”

MCC will return home to host the annual Rush Tournament at Scaggs field on Feb. 13-15. The Eagles open up the tournament Friday by hosting Southeastern Illinois at noon then Wabash College at 3 p.m., and then play in the nightcap on Saturday against Southeastern Illinois at 6 p.m., before finishing the tourney with a afternoon doubleheader on Sunday against Wabash and then Southeastern Illinois.

“We usually get a major advantage over the two northern teams as they don’t get outside much before we play,” said Rose.

“This year is different, both Wabash and Southeastern Illinois have had weather that enabled them to practice so I look for them to be sharp when they arrive.”

Meridian will stay at home following the Rush Tournament to host Alabama Southern on Feb. 17 and Kaskaskia on Feb. 20 and 22.

MCC’s final regular season tournament will come at Bossier Parish when the Eagles face Angelina and host-Bossier Parrish on Feb. 27 in Bossier, LA. The final day, MCC will play Northeast Oklahoma and Weatherford on Feb. 28.

The Eagles kick off the month of March at home with a seven game home stand.

First, MCC will host Northwest Florida State College for three game series on March 6-7. Then the Eagles will host Kishwaukee in a double-header on March 11 and Northwest Shoals on March 17.

MCC will then play eight consecutive road games starting with a trip to conference opponent-Baton Rouge Community College March 21-22, then the Eagles travel to Thomasville, AL to face L.B. Wallace on March 26. Longtime rival of MCC and conference foe, Delgado, reappears on the Eagles schedule as MCC continues their road trip in out of New Orleans against the Dolphins on March 28-29. MCC’s final game for the month of March comes at Tuscaloosa, AL with a game against Shelton State on March 31.

A return game with Shelton State on April 7 opens up the final month of the regular season for MCC, then the Eagles host conference opponent Baton Rouge Community College on April 11-12.

MCC’s final road trip keeps them in the Twin States area with back-to-back double headers at Northwest Shoals on April 14 and at Wallace State-Hanceville on April 15.

Meridian will host conference foe and tradition rival, Delgado, April 18-19 in a weekend series to close out its 2009 regular season schedule.

The 2009 NJCAA Region 23 Division I Baseball Tournament is scheduled May 1-3 in Baton Rouge, LA and the NJCAA District Tournament will be played on May 15-17 at the Region 16 champion’s campus.

The 2009 NJCAA Division I Baseball World Series is set for Grand Junction, CO on May 23-30, a site MCC has visited many times in its storied past.

“We are now back D1, that means the winner of the district tournament goes to Grand Junction. The harsh reality is that people will look at a MCC Baseball as underachieving if we don’t go to the World Series and that’s ok with me,” said Rose.

“Every person involved in this program knows how high the bar is set coming in and embraces the fact that we have a higher standard than most. We have one goal: World Series.”

Parker lifts MCC in thriller

Meridian women 73
Southern-Shreveport 70

(Shreveport, La.) -After host Southern-Shreveport hit a 3-pointer with five seconds remaining Tuesday night, it looked like the Meridian Community College women's basketball team was headed for overtime. However, a late foul call lifted the Lady Eagles to a 73-70 win.

After Southern-Shreveport's late 3-pointer tied the game at 70, MCC sophomore Tiara Parker, a Meridian High product, misses a shot from midcourt just before the buzzer, but a foul was whistled against Southern-Shreveport with 0.3 seconds left. Parker, who finished with 19 points, hit all three of the ensuing free throws to help the Lady Eagles to improve to 12-5.

LaQuita Burroughs also scored 19 and Brittany Bohannon added 16 points for MCC, which hosts Jones County on Thursday night at 6 p.m.

Southern-Shreveport 76
Meridian men 57

Despite four players in double figures Tuesday night, the Eagles fell on the road to Southern-Shreveport.

Otis Williams led Meridian with 14 points, Gary Cunningham added 12 points for the Eagles while Mario Luckett and Travis Thompson each had 11 points.

Meridian, which fell to 9-8, hosts Jones County on Thursday at 8 p.m.

Eagles hold on: Big first half sparks MCC past Delgado

By Chris Brennaman / Assistant Sports Editor

What was a blowout at halftime turned into a nail-biter of sorts for the Meridian Community College Eagles Saturday in Graham Gymnasium on the MCC campus.

The Eagles led by 21 at halftime, but held off a second-half surge by visiting Delgado Community College to take an 86-72 win.

After halftime, MCC (8-5) scored 23 of its 40 points from the free-throw line as the Dolphins committed 17 fouls in the second half alone.

"I thought our guys responded well down the stretch with the clutch free throws" said MCC coach George Brooks. "We had a great first-half start with great intensity. We just have to learn to protect that lead and keep the pedal down. We let up a little, but the guys stayed together and won through adversity."

With Meridian holding a 22-point lead 3:17 into the second half, Delgado started applying the pressure, going on a 12-2 run to close to within 12.

The Dolphins got as close as nine on three separate occasions, but each time Meridian put the lead back in double digits with free throws.

The Eagles withstood a barrage of 3-point attempts in the final 20 minutes, as Delgado launched 14 shots from beyond the arc. Ricardo Porter connected on four attempts in the second half, bringing his total to seven in the game.

Porter, who scored a game-high 29 points, was the only Dolphin to make a shot from downtown as the team combined for a 7-for-22 day.

Late in the first half, the Eagles used a 16-1 run to turn an eight-point lead into 24 points. During that span, Gary Cunningham scored 10 of his 12 points, including a pair of 3s.

Mario Luckett, who recorded a team-high 21 points for the Eagles, was the only MCC player to convert a field goal in the game's final 12 minutes with a layup 33 seconds before the final horn. Five of his nine free throws came during the span, which saw Meridian tally 19 points from the charity stripe.

Otis Williams tacked on 17, while Travis Thompson finished with 12.

The win snapped a two-game losing skid for the Eagles, who were playing at home for the first time in nearly a month.

"We needed to win today," Brooks said. "Those (last) two were bitter losses and we had to sit on them for a week and that was tough, but our guys came out and responded the right way."


Meridian women 69
Delgado 56

The Lady Eagles also ended their two-game skid with a 13-point win over visiting Delgado.

The Lady Dolphins took an early 9-6 lead on a 3-pointer by Jamie Ellis, who scored a team-high 11 points for Delgado, which beat the shot clock. DCC held Meridian at bay until the 3:42 mark of the first half.

The Lady Dolphins, whose largest lead of the game was six, withstood two ties during the stretch, but didn't relinquish the go-ahead basket until former Meridian Lady Wildcat Tiara Parker hit the first of her three consecutive shots, including a 3-pointer.

Parker scored a game-high 15 points and came up an assist shy of a double-double.

Once Meridian held the lead, the Lady Eagles didn't give it up, putting as many as 18 points between themselves and the visitors.

"We lost both of our last two games by three points each," said MCC coach Hilary Allen. "We played well in both of those games, but it was nice to get back on the winning track."

LaQuita Burrough notched a double-double with 14 points and 11 boards for the Lady Eagles, who improved to 11-5 as they handed Delgado its sixth straight loss.

Brittany Bohannon, a former Kemper County standout, added 10 points in the contest.

Both MCC teams return to action Tuesday at Southern Shreveport.

MCC Basketball preps for Double-Header with Delgado

MERIDIAN, Miss. – The Meridian Community College basketball teams will play their first home game in nearly a month when they host longtime foe, Delgado Community College Saturday in a men’s / women’s doubleheader at the Graham Gymnasium.

The Lady Eagles will tip off at 2 p.m., while the Eagles are slated to take the court at 4 p.m.

This is the first of three doubleheaders between the two schools. Delgado and MCC will meet on Homecoming Saturday, February 7 and then a pair of games at New Orleans on Thursday, February 12.

The Lady Eagles come into Saturday’s match up with a 10-5 record, while the Eagles are 8-7.

MCC Youth Soccer Camp

YOUTH SOCCER CLINIC
MERIDIAN COMMUNITY COLLEGE
JANUARY 26 – 29

MYSO KICKOFF CLASSIC

"Happy New Year to all of our Meridian Youth Soccer Players! As your “spring” season approaches we will be offering the very best “foot skills” clinic for you and your teammates. Please take part in these sessions as we will focus on proper techniques along with many other modern training methods. Here are just a few:
Movement off of the ball
Two v One
Give and Goes
Running at a Defender
Shooting

This four day clinic will be a great opportunity to get everyone back into the mode of practicing and working on your touch for the upcoming season.

Each camper will also receive a soccer ball.

Time: 4:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m.
Location: M.C.C. Soccer Field
Cost: $80/camper. Note: Each additional family member and M.C.C. employees receives 50% off.
Contact: Alex George ageorge@meridiancc.edu or 601-484-8697
Registration: Simply complete the information below and bring it with on January 26.

Registration/sign-in will take place at the entrance to the soccer Field beginning at 3:30 p.m.

Checks made to: M.C.C. Soccer

MCC baseball signs nine players on national signing day

MERIDIAN, Miss. – Meridian Community College baseball program didn’t have to look far for its first signees of 2009. Two local high school players joined an out-of-state prep star Thursday afternoon and make it official- that they would be playing for the Eagles starting in the 2009-2010 season.

MCC head coach Chris Rose, who is entering his fourth-year at the helm of the Eagle baseball program, announced that outfielder/catcher Darren Farmer of Bailey (West Lauderdale High School) and infielder Kenny Roberts of Meridian (Meridian High School) would join right-handed infielder/pitcher Reeves Bozeman of Thomasville, AL (Thomasville High School) as the first three signees to the baseball team for 2009.

“We are excited to have these guys join or program today,” said Rose.

“All three of the young men play for excellent high school programs. Coach Clint Anderson (Thomasville HS), Coach Jerry Boater (West Lauderdale HS) and Coach Chuck Butler (Meridian HS) all do an exceptional job with their players and programs. There is no doubt that these players will continue their outstanding play here at MCC.”

Coach Rose also added that a total of nine players committed to the Eagles during this signing period. The complete list is as follows

Signed on campus Thursday, Jan 15
Reeves Bozeman (6’3” 185 lbs) Third base/Pitcher Thomasville, AL (Thomasville High School)
Darren Farmer (5’11” 200 lbs) Outfielder/Catcher Bailey, MS (West Lauderdale High School)
Kenny Roberts (5’10” 180 lbs) Infielder Meridian, MS (Meridian High School)

Were not present Thursday, but are signed with MCC
Daniel Allen (5’10” 165lbs) Pitcher Greenwood, MS (Pillow Academy)
Nick Helmstetter (6’1” 185 lbs) Pitcher/Outfielder Brookhaven, MS (Brookhaven High School)
Ben Kingsley (6’0” 175 lbs) Infielder Mooreville, MS (Mooreville High School)
Jay Myrick (5’10” 165 lbs) Pitcher/Infielder Spanish Fort, AL (Spanish Fort High School)
Tyler Roberts (6’2” 215 lbs) Catcher Gray, Georgia (Jones County High School)
Graham Spencer (5”10” 170 lbs) Infielder Decatur, AL (Decatur High School)

MCC basketball swept by Columbia State

Both the Meridian Community College basketball teams were defeated Thursday night in Columbia, TN.

The Lady Eagles (10-4) lost 89-86 to Columbia State Community College.

In men’s action, MCC saw their five-point halftime lead (33-28) slip away as the Eagles lost on the road 78-69 to Columbia State Community College Thursday night.

MCC was led by Jared Hudnall who scored a team high 18 points. Mario Luckett added 15 points for the Eagles as former NE Lauderdale star, Tommy Tillman, added 11 points.

Meridian fell to 8-6 on the season. The Eagles remain on the road this weekend in Tennessee as they face Volunteer State Community College Saturday at 4 p.m.

The Lady Eagles also play Volunteer State Saturday at 2 p.m.

MCC’s next home game will come Saturday, January 17th when they host Delgado for a double-header starting at 2 p.m.

Moulds back with MCC Golf

(MERIDIAN) – Meridian Community College head golf coach Sean Covich announced that Meridian native, Jarrod Moulds, will return to play for the MCC Golf team starting in January.

Moulds was enrolled at Mississippi State University in Starkville during the 2008 fall semester but has decided to continue his colligate golfing career at MCC.

"Jarrod adds a lot of talent to this team," said Covich.

"In addition, he adds experience to a young squad with only one sophomore on the roster. He is a young man with character and I am excited to have him back on the team."

Moulds was a member of the MCC golf team during the 2007-2008 season and led the Eagles to a 2008 MACJC State/NJCAA Region 23 Runner-Up finish. He was named First Team All State by the MACJC and MCC’s Most Outstanding Freshman Golfer.

During the ’07-’08 season with MCC, Moulds had the third lowest tournament stroke average on the team (75.1) and he posted two rounds of even-par or better. He was named to the Indian Bayou Collegiate Classic’s All Tournament team in October 2007 and won the Kirkwood National Invitational medalist honors in April 2008.

In high school, Moulds led the Lamar Raiders to back-to-back MPSA Overall State Championships in 2006 and 2007. As a junior, Moulds shot even-par at the 2006 Overall State Championship and finished runner-up medalist. As a senior, Moulds placed in the top-five individually at both the Class 3A and Overall State tournaments. He shot six rounds of 75 or below for Lamar and won the Tuscaloosa Academy Invitational medalist title. Following his senior campaign, Moulds was given the Raider Award for golf by Lamar High School.

On the junior golf tour circuit, in 2005, Moulds claimed three top-ten finishes including the Mississippi “Big I” State Championship, the MJGA Northwood Classic and the State Farms Boys Junior Amateur Championship. Following his 2005 campaign, Moulds was named to the 2005 MJGA Junior Cup Team.

In 2006, Moulds participated in the SJGT Laura Walker Junior Classic in Waycross, GA. Moulds shot even-par for two days (72-72). He also played in the MJGA Tour Northwood Classic, shooting 73 to finish 3rd. Moulds then claimed two more top-ten finishes, at the Mississippi “Big I” State Championship in Starkville, shooting 75-74 to claim a tie for 7th and the second at the Mississippi-Louisiana Junior Golf Championship in Brookhaven, shooting 71-71 to claim 6th.

Other accomplishments on the course for Moulds include winning the prestigious Bill Davis Fourth of July Match play Championship twice (2005-2006) with partner Nicholas Brown. Moulds and Brown also teamed up to claim runner-up honors at the 2006 Ed Lewis Memorial Day Championship.

Moulds’ home course is Northwood Country Club where he works closely with PGA Club Professional Jimmy Gamblin. He is the son of Benton and Karen Moulds.

MCC basketball to visit the Volunteer State

(MERIDIAN) – After nearly a three week break from action, the Meridian Community College basketball teams return to the hardwood on Thursday (Jan 8) to face Columbia State Community College in Columbia, TN.

The contest will be the first for MCC since Dec. 19, when both the Eagles and Lady Eagles defeated Bishop State.

The Eagles, who sport an 8-5 record this year, have won three straight road games.

Meanwhile, the Lady Eagles (10-3) have a 4-1 road record this season.

After Thursday, MCC will continue its Tennessee road trip with a game at Volunteer State Community College on Saturday (Jan 10).

MCC’s next home game will come Saturday, January 17th when they host Delgado for a double-header starting at 2 p.m.