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Thursday, December 17, 2009
Thomas to have uniform retired at CCHS Monday All former players offered free admission A former Chester County High School athlete will receive the ultimate honor from her school. Bianca Thomas, a two-time Miss Basketball in the state of Tennessee, will have her uniform retired by the school between games of a doubleheader at 6 p.m. Monday against Scotts Hill. All former Chester County High basketball players will be admitted free to the contest. Thomas played for CCHS from
the fall of 2001 to 2006, helping the Eaglettes to three regional titles, two state tournament appearances and the 2005 state championship. She is the all-time leading scorer at Chester County High School in five-on-five fullcourt basketball, male or female, with 2,776 points. She also owns the girls five-on-five single game scoring record with 45 points. Thomas is currently a senior member of the University of
Mississippi women’s basketball team and has scored more than 1,000 points for the Lady Rebels, and is one of the school’s all-time leaders in three-point shots made. She scored 25 points with four three-pointers Sunday against Ohio State. Last season she was voted to the All Southeastern Conference first team, and is on the watch list for the 2010 national player of the year.
CCHS Eagles and Eaglettes post first wins of season
Photo by James A. Webb, Independent
Jake Greenway saw an open lane to the bucket and raced for two of his nine points in the Eagles’ first victory of the season, a 59-44 triumph over Hardin County.
Chris Gilbert scored 22 and Will Jones 10 as the Chester County Eagles got their first basketball victory of the season, defeating Hardin County 59-44 Dec. 8 at Eagle Gym. Friday at Jackson, the Eaglettes also picked up their first win, pounding Jackson-Central Merry 55-20. Trailing 5-2 early in the first period, the Eagles ran off 10 unanswered points. Then after the Tigers scored the first five points of the second quarter, the Eagles ran away with the game by scoring the last 19 points of the first half to build a 31-12 lead. CCHS helped their own cause in the second period with zero turnovers. Jake Greenway of the Eagles scored eight of his nine points in the fourth period on a two-fer and two three-pointers. Wesley Woods also added nine, all coming in the first half. Unofficially, the Eagles shot 45 percent
from the field to only 27 percent by the visitors. Hardin County hit 10 three-point shots, and only seven twos. The Eaglettes were not as fortunate against Hardin County, giving up several easy baskets early in the game and falling to the Lady Tigers 56-47. Dee Dee Jones led CCHS with 10 points, hitting four of six field goal tries and two free throws. Fell behind by as many as 21 points in the first half, but gradually clawed their way back into the game, out-scoring Hardin County in each of the final two periods. shot 34 percent from the field to 49 percent for the victors. Turnovers were again a program for the Eaglettes who coughed up the ball 17 times to only nine for the Lady Tigers. Hardin County scored 21 points off CCHS turnovers. Friday in Jackson, the Eaglettes led from the outset in their victory over JCM. Jones had a
near perfect night shooting the basketball, hitting six of seven field goal tries and 10 of 11 free throw attempts for 22 points. Couch added 15. As a team the Eaglettes shot 30 percent from the field to only 18 percent for the hosts. CCHS had 46 rebounds to 34 for JCM, and forced 23 floor mistakes by the host team. Jones led the Eaglettes with 14 rebounds. Myonni Alexander had six steals and three assists. Gilbert scored 13 for the Eagles who fell to the undefeated Cougars 7428. High School Basketball Girls, Dec. 8 at Eagle Gym Hardin Co. 20-18- 8-10=56 Chester Co. 7-14-10-16=47 HC – Carnesha Bradley 15, Amanda Henson 12, Madison Bishop 10, Plunk 8, Robinson 8, Roser 3. CC – Dee Dee Jones 10, Alexander 9, Rhodes 7, Couch 7, Miskelly 4, Sims 4, Hart 3, Lockett 3.
See CCHS, Page 2-B
Lee beats Freed Lions by two, FHU’s third straight setback In a series where overtime games are common, it took a pair of misses on Freed-Hardeman’s final possession to keep another one from happening. Down two with possession and playing for the final shot, the Lions missed twice to enable Lee University to escape with a 68-66 win at the Sports Center on Friday night. The loss is the third
straight for No. 16 FreedHardeman (7-4), while Lee (8-4) wins its fourth consecutive game. The first half saw seven ties and nine lead changes, with Lee taking a 29-27 lead into the break. The Flames made a pair of three-pointers to extend their lead to eight points early in the second half, but FHU went on a 13-4 run to take a 40-39 lead at the 14:53 mark.
However, Lee answered with a 13-2 run of its own to open the largest lead of the game at 52-42 with 10:04 to play. The Flames maintained a 10-point lead for the next three minutes and never trailed the rest of the game, though the Lions certainly had their chances. The Lions pounded the ball inside, using points in See LIONS, Page 2-B
Photo by James A. Webb, Independent
Myonni Alexander of CCHS drives against Hardin County at Eagle Gym Dec. 8.
Neal wins 400th victory at FHU
Photo by James A. Webb, Independent
Freed-Hardeman’s Zack Frey battles for a rebound with Lee’s Chad James, right, and Josh Nofflet during their contest Friday at the FHU Sports Center.
The 400th win of Freed-Hardeman women’s basketball coach Dale Neal’s tenure was a bit anticlimactic. The NAIA No. 7ranked Freed-Hardeman Lady Lions opened the game on a 19-4 run and cruised to a 76-37 win over NCAA Division II Lane College at the McDonald’s Classic at Bethel University on Friday afternoon. The win gave FHU head coach Dale Neal his 400th at the helm of the Freed-Hardeman program, which he took over in 1994. In his 16 years, the Lady Lions have failed to win 20 games only once. FHU (10-1) controlled the boards, particularly in the first half where the Lady Lions pulled down 34 rebounds as Lane shot just 18 percent from the field. Freed-Hardeman See FHU, Page 2-B
Cross is Player of the Week The TranSouth Athletic Conference has selected FreedHardeman University’s Jana Cross as the Women’s Basketball Player of the Week for the week ending Sunday, Dec. 13. It is the second time this season Cross has been honored by the conference. Cross, a 5-10 senior forward from Loretto, nearly averaged a double-double for the week in two wins for the Lady Lions. In a 101-58 win over Tennessee Temple, Cross recorded her fourth double-double of the season with 26 points and 10 rebounds. She followed with a 14point, nine-rebound performance in just 23 minutes against Lane
JANA CROSS College later in the week. For the week, Cross averaged 20 points, 9.5 rebounds, two assists, and 1.5 steals per game. She shot 71.4 percent (15-21) from the field and 77 percent (10-13) from the foul line. The Lady Lions are 101 overall and are currently ranked No. 7 in the first regular season NAIA Women’s Basketball Division 1 poll.