Douglas notches win 704

By Brad Greer

Whatever North Delta girls basketball coach Phil Douglas told his club at halftime of their game last week against Tunica Academy must have worked.

Deadlocked 21-21 at intermission, the Lady Green Wave put the clamps on the visitors by holding Tunica to seven points in the second half in route to a 50-28 victory. The win was also a milestone of sorts as Douglas claimed win number 704 of his coaching career that has spanned over three decades.
Douglas started coaching at South Panola junior high from 1974-1978 before starting his head coaching stint the following year. Douglas then made stops at Pleasant Grove Academy, Yalobusha Academy, Oak Hill Academy, Greenville Christian, Tishomingo County, Bayou Academy, Independence and North Delta for the past eight seasons.

"God has blessed me and has made me a platform for relationships and witness for so many young people. I have to give them credit for a lot and of course the Lord for putting me where he wanted me to serve his will," said Douglas.

Claire Gant paved the way for North Delta (3-2) with 14 points, nine of which came in the third quarter as the Lady Waves outscored Tunica 15-0. Hastings Neal followed Gant in the scoring column with 11 points.

Tunica was held scoreless in the second half until Crystal Terry, who led all scorers with 16 points, hit a three-pointer with 4:28 remaining in the game.

"We made some defensive changes at halftime and they did not adjust to them. We knew we could break them down on the dribble and we started getting some good looks at the basket in the second half," said Douglas.

Erin Snider chipped in with nine points while Callie Blake Masterson supplied six points as North Delta shot 35 percent (18-51) from the field and 11-of-18 at the free throw line.

Jordan Pullen and Julianna Morrow registered four points while Megan Bollinger added two points.