MCC Basketball Splits Home Set With ICC

From School Reports

The Meridian Community College Eagles finished out the fall semester with an early Christmas gift by defeating Itawamba Community College by a final score of 69-61 at the Graham Gymnasium Thursday evening. MCC improved to 4-4 overall for the 2014-2015 season, while Itawamba dropped its overall mark for the season to 4-6. The MCC men will play one final game to close out the month of December by traveling to Marion Military Institute this Saturday afternoon at 3:30.

Sophomore Brandon Daniels had another solid game for the Eagles by leading the way in the scoring department with 25 points, while Kendrekus Jackson followed with 16 points. Ken’Darrius Hamilton also cracked double figures for the green and white by finishing with 10 points. Tyrone Wooten led the way in scoring for the visiting Indians with 13 points and Lakee Westbrook poured in 12 points in the road loss.

The MCC women weren’t as fortunate Thursday night as the Lady Indians secured a 75-65 victory in the opening contest. The Lady Eagles dropped to 7-4 overall for the season, while ICC improved to 8-2 for the year. Maia McCullum led the way in scoring for MCC with 24 points and Miaya Crowder followed with 15 points. Jayla Chills led the way in scoring for ICC with 20 points and Jeronia Allen finished with 18 points for the road team.

The Lady Eagles will return to action January 8 at home against East Mississippi Community College at 5:30 and the men will also be in action at 7:30 against the Lions.  

MCC Soccer Signs Seven Local Stars

From School Reports

The Meridian Community College soccer program has had a long standing tradition of securing some of the best talent in the state of Mississippi and for the immediate area. The program added to that tradition Wednesday afternoon as seven players from the Lauderdale County area signed to play soccer next season at Meridian Community College. The MCC women added six players to its current signing class, while the MCC men added one local standout to its 2015 roster.

“We are very happy that these young ladies decided to stay here in their hometown to play for us next season,” said MCC head women’s coach Mike Smith. “I played soccer at MCC and it is such an honor to be able to play for your hometown. All of these players will represent MCC in the right way and bring some great qualities to the table.”

The highlight of the local signing class for the MCC women was four players from West Lauderdale High School. Abbie Pope, Jordyn Hull, Alisa Bullock, and Lacy Billings will bring their talents to MCC after enjoying very successful careers at West Lauderdale. Pope will play in the midfield next season and brings plenty of technical skills to the soccer field according to Smith. Hull will also look for playing next season for the Lady Eagles in the midfield and is most noted for having one of the strongest legs at her position in the area. Bullock will see most of her action at defender for MCC next season, while Billings will look to bring a spark at the striker position in 2015 for MCC.

Kedrianna Cole also joined the local signing group and will bring her talents from Northeast Lauderdale High School. Cole will also bring her playmaking abilities to the field next season for the Lady Eagles at striker. The final member of the local signing class for the Lady Eagles was Claire Miller from Southeast Lauderdale. Miller will also see playing time at defender for MCC and is most noted for aggressive play at her position.

The MCC men were also happy to announce that Nick Perry would brining his soccer talents to campus next year by way of Clarkdale High School.

“He (Perry) is a fine young man,” said MCC head men’s soccer coach Alex George. “He is a great character kid and we know he will bring a lot to our team next season.”

Perry was named Best Offensive Player for the Bulldogs last season after scoring 17 goals. The signing ceremony for the local standouts was held on campus at the Damon Fitness Center.

MCC Basketball Splits Road Set At MGCCC

From School Reports

The Meridian Community College Lady Eagles rebounded in a big way Monday night by securing its first MACJC South Division of the 2014-2015 season.

The Lady Eagles traveled to Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College Monday evening and came away with a hard fought 61-48 road victory over the Lady Bulldogs.

Adrianna James led the way in scoring for MCC with 14 points and sophomore Miaya Crowder chipped in with 11 points.

The Lady Eagles improved to 7-3 overall and 1-1 in South Division play. The MCC men didn't enjoy the same success and lost in the men's contest to MGCCC by a final of 77-50. The Eagles dropped to 3-4 overall and 0-2 in South Division play with the road loss.

Both squads will return to action Thursday night with a doubleheader at home against Itawamba Community College. The women will take to the floor at 5:30 and the men will follow at 7:30.

MCC Posts Top Finish At Opening Meet

From School Reports

Meridian, MS – On Friday, Meridian Community College returned to competing in track and field following an over 10 year absence competing in Birmingham at the Birmingham Southern Ice Breaker. 

MCC’s men’s team posted a Top 10 finish placing 8^th amongst the 14 team field that included teams from the NCAA along with posting seven NJCAA qualifying times.

“This was a very good showing for us,” said Head Coach Chip Gayden. “We came out and competed at a high level and held our own against some good teams that compete in the NCAA with just a partial team traveling and not running either relays in the meet.”

The highlight of the meet for MCC came in the 60-meters, 60-meter exhibition and 200-meters where MCC saw victories.  Freshman, Chris Lewis won the 60-meters posting a winning time of 6.74.  Cravorkian Carson posted a 3^rd place finish in the event with a time of 6.95.  Freshman, Kendrick Smith posted victories in both the 60-meter exhibition and 200-meters.  Smith won the 60-meter exhibition in a time of 6.77 and then posted a winning time of 21.84. 

“Both sections of the 60-meters and the 200-meters were big for us,” said Coach Gayden.  “Anytime you can come in and execute what we have done in practice and have 3 personal bests is big. We qualified for nationals and now can just focus on improving.

MCC also saw success in the 400-meter on both the men’s and women’s side.  The men’s team was led by freshman Eric Durham posting fourth place finish and a NJCAA qualifying time of 49.83.  Freshman, Bryson Penton turned in a fifth place finish in a time of 50.99.  Jocindra Glee led the way on the women’s side posting a NJCAA qualifying time of 59.03 and a fourth place finish.

MCC will return to the track after the holiday break on Jan. 17 at the Auburn Invitational over in Birmingham at the Birmingham Crossplex.

ECCC Sweeps MCC To Open Conference Play

From School Reports

Meridian Community College and East Central Community College met on the basketball court Thursday night to open play in the 2014-2015 portion of the MACJC schedule inside the South Division. The visiting Warriors traveled to Meridian and came away with a doubleheader sweep over the home squad to continue its solid play to open the season. The Lady Warriors breezed past MCC in women’s action by a final score of 95-68, while the East Central men needed overtime to complete the sweep by a final count of 79-70.

The MCC women dropped its overall record to 6-3, while the MCC men fell to 3-3 overall for the season. The Lady Warriors remained perfect for the season by moving to 7-0, while the ECCC men improved to 5-2.

Freshman Andrianna James led the way in scoring for the Lady Eagles in the opening game of the night with 23 points, while sophomore Miaya Crowder finished the night with 19 points. Tashi-ana Thompson led the Lady Warriors in scoring with 18 points and Tynika Bender finished with 17 points for ECCC.

Sophomore Brandon Daniels led the way in scoring in the men’s contest for the Eagles with 18 points and Devontae Brewster ended his night with 13 points. Ken’Darrius Hamilton also scored in double figures for the green and white with 11 points. Quinton Campbell led the way in the scoring department for the visiting Warriors with 20 points.

MCC will return to action Monday night with an MACJC South Division road doubleheader at Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College, while East Central will play host to Jones County Junior College Monday night.

MCC Gives Back To Community

From School Reports

The Meridian Community College athletic program gave back to the community in a very special way Thursday afternoon. The members of the athletic teams at MCC were stationed all across Meridian in support of the Salvation Army. The players were ringing bells at many locations around the Queen City to help raise funds for the organization. The athletic program at Meridian Community College has been a part of the Salvation Army bell ringing program for Christmas over the past several years.