MCC Basketball Splits Season Finale

From School Reports

The Meridian Community College Lady Eagles entered play Thursday night against Pearl River Community College needing a victory to at least secure a berth in the MACJC State Tournament next week and the home team delivered in the important contest. MCC was able to rebound from a slow start to slip past the visiting Lady Wildcats by a final score of 74-70. The Lady Eagles started very sluggish in the game by falling in a 9-1 hole and the first field goal didn’t come until the 10:00 mark of the first half. MCC was able to claw back and cut the lead to 30-26 at the end of the first half.

The two teams would swap the lead for a majority of the closing minutes, but freshman Maia McCullum would put the Lady Eagles up for good with a three-point bucket in the final 30 seconds of action. MCC improved to 15-9 overall with the victory and closed out the regular season with an 8-6 record inside the MACJC South Division. The Lady Eagles clinched the fourth seed in the MACJC State Tournament which will begin Monday in Wesson, MS on the campus of Copiah-Lincoln Community College. MCC is scheduled to play Itawamba Community College to open the tournament on Monday at 2:45 p.m.

Sophomore Miaya Crowder led the way in scoring in her final home game at the Graham Gymnasium with 19 points and freshman Tytianna Hall ended the night with 14 points. Freshman Adrianna James and sophomore Londyn Thomas each finished with 10 points apiece, and McCullum finished with eight points off the bench for the Lady Eagles.

The MCC men also closed out the regular season Thursday night by falling to Pearl River by a final of 85-75. Sophomore Brandon Daniels once again led the way in scoring for MCC with 22 points and freshman Ken’Darrius Hamilton finished with 12 points. Demarius Calvert also scored 12 points in the loss and Frankie Collins chipped in with 10 points. The Eagles closed out the 2014-2015 season with an 8-14 overall record and a 2-12 mark in league play.