Lady Green Wave lock down district title

By Brad Greer, The Panolian

Once upon a time not so long ago, a group of sixth- graders stepped onto Randy Sullivan Court to help jumpstart a foundation of girls basketball at The North Delta School.

Seven years  and 140 wins (and counting), five district championships, one North State and one State tournament appearance later, those-  now seven seniors played their final district contest at home Friday night as the Lady Green Wave wrapped up the District 1-AA regular season title with a 49-26 win over Clarksdale Lee.

Amy Walker, Callie Blake Masterson, Hastings Neal, Erin Snider, Julianna Morrow, Claire Gant and Jordan Pullen along with  three senior members of the boys' team Andy Linder, Sam Copeland and Tyler Beard were all recognized between games.

North Delta (19-7; 9-1)  which played at Magnolia Heights last night, closes out the regular season Monday by hosting Desoto Ark. at 6 p.m. The Lady Waves will then head into the district tournament slated for Feb. 6-8 at Bayou Academy as the No. 1 seed.

Friday's victory over Lee was basically never in doubt as North Delta easily led from start to finish. Neal paced the Waves with 14 points, 11 in the second half, and five steals while Masterson added 10 points and five assists to go along with four rebounds.

North Delta raced out to a 16-8 advantage after one quarter before holding Lee scoreless in the second period to take a convincing 31-8 lead at halftime. Morrow and Gant chipped in with six points apiece while Pullen and Snider contributed with five each. Janie Brasell registered three steals and three points.

North Delta (boys)-41 Lee-39

Dennis King scored on a layup off of  a inbounds play with 1:27 remaining in the game proved to be the difference maker was the Green Wave squeezed out the victory.

North Delta (5-18; 4-6) led 39-34 at the 4:20  mark before Lee knotted the score 39-39 on a Matt Spencer three-pointer with 1:57 showing on the clock. The Colts had several chances to tie or take the lead in the final moments but turned the ball over with eight seconds left. Lee's last gasp came after North Delta missed a free throw with five seconds remaining only to have Spencer's three pointer rimmed out as time expired.

North Delta took a slim 24-23 lead at intermission in a see-saw affair what saw ten lead changes and five ties. Sam Copeland registered a double-double with 12 points and 10 rebounds to lead the Green Wave. Beard followed with 11 points, six rebounds and six steals. King and Will Hartzell chipped in with five points while Bailey Sullivant finished with three points.

 In what proved to be the most exciting game of the night, North Delta junior high boys came away with a 51-49 overtime win over Lee. The Wave looked to have won the game in regulation only to have the Colts nail a long-range three pointer at the buzzer to send the contest into a extra session.

Matt Burchfield gave North Delta a 50-49 lead on a free throw with 25 seconds left. Joseph Wright then iced the victory with another free throw at the eight second mark.

Luke Lewis paved the way with 12 points with Wright adding nine points. John Haga Lewis and Peyton Neal each tallied seven points. Graves Baker added five points and Cole Devazier contributed with four. Austin Pointer also had two points to help in the winning effort.