Jags pull away from Eagles

By Daniel Rigdon / sports writer

Meridian Community College played a solid 30 minutes of basketball Saturday afternoon. Unfortuantely, the game is 40 minutes long as the Eagles dropped an 80-59 decision to Southern University at Shreveport at Graham Gymnasium in Miss-Lou Conference men's basketball action.

MCC (4-15) weathered a hot start by the Jaguars as it trailed 23-12 just 10 minutes into the contest. The Eagles rallied behind the strong first-half play of freshmen duo Emmanuel Donald and Ma'Quirus Burton. The Eagles went on a 22-10 run to claim its first lead of the game at 34-33 at the five minute mark in the first half.

Southern would then go on another mini-run of its own to lead by eight points before Burton hit a big 3-pointer with just seconds left to head into the locker room at half only trailing by a five-point margin.

Donald had 11 first half points, while Burton knocked down three 3-point field goals in the first 20 minutes.

The second half began with the two teams trading baskets back and forth and with 10 minutes left in the contest the score stood 52-47 in favor of the Jaguars.

Just as it had all throughout the contest, Southern, was able to string together another run to distance itself from the Eagles. However, this time MCC was not able to answer and did not register a basket in the last two-and-a-half minutes of play. The Jaguars were able to score 12 points in that same span to close out MCC by 21.

Meridian was led by Burton's 15-point effort, while Deionte Dean chipped in with 14 points, 11 rebounds and seven blocked shots. Donald finished with 13 points and Nate McCrory added 10 in the loss.

Justin Patten led the way for the Jags with a game-high 25-point performance, while Brion Staffore followed suit with 18 points

Meridian coach George Brooks was unavailable for comment after the game.

The Eagles are back in action Wednesday as they travel to take on Miss-Lou Conference foe Delgado.


Meridian women 82
Southern 70

Meridian used a late first-half run Saturday afternoon to distance itself and take a Miss-Lou Conference victory as it cruised past visiting Southern University at Shreveport.

The contest was close throughout much of the first half as after a 6-0 run to start the two teams became dead-locked at 11 five minutes in. The Jaguars answered the Eagles basket-for-basket until Philadelphia product Tiara Logan and Bianca Powell scored an impressive 12 points in just 54 seconds to push Meridian's lead to 18 points with just 1:56 left in the half. Southern was able to manage two late buckets to enter halftime trailing 49-32.

Logan had three 3-point field goals in the half, while Powell dropped in two.

MCC (15-4) tightened the screws even more to begin the second half as it went on a 17-6 run in the first six minutes of the second half to lead by 30 points.

However, the Jags would not go away and rallied back to within 12 points before time ran out.

"I was a little concerned how we would come out after going on a two-game skid," said Meridian coach Hilary Allen. "I thought the group went out there and played hard, especially the last few minutes of the half. Tiara Logan hit some big shots for us and Brittany Bohannon keeps making big plays for us."

MCC was led by Logan's 17 points, including four 3-pointers, while LaQuita Burrough scored 16 points and pulled down 10 boards. Amber Fields got in on the action dropping in 12 points.

Meridian travels to Delgado on Wednesday in Miss-Lou Conference action.