[06/04/01] Outsized and outnumbered, Warren County’s AAU 17-under team put a scare in the North Mississippi Pride in the championship game of the state tournament.

JaQuita Benard scored 24 points and grabbed 14 rebounds as Warren County, made up of the varsity team from Warren Central, fell 61-54 to the Pride, an all-star team from Northeast Mississippi.

LaShanda Williams added 15 and Wanda Calvin scored 12 points and grabbed 12 rebounds as WC fought back from a double-digit deficit in the second half to cut the lead to as little as two points.

“I thought our kids showed a lot of character and desire,” said Warren County coach Donny Fuller, whose team won the silver medal. “I like this team. We are missing some players and we don’t give in to anything.”

Warren County started the game with just seven players and finished with nine after two arrived late in the first half.

Robin Chastain scored 15 and Claudia Johnson scored 12 to lead the Pride, which had several players over 6 feet.

Warren County trailed 29-23 at the half, and quickly fell behind 46-29 seven minutes into the second 20-minute period.

Benard scored 13 and Williams hit three 3-pointers in the second half as Warren County sliced the lead to 49-47 just nine minutes later.

The host team never got the lead, however.

The Pride advance to the National AAU Tournament in Des Moines, Iowa.

To get to the finals, WC started the day with a 57-56 overtime win over Greenwood. Benard scored 23 and Calvin netted 19.

M. Green 46, Lady Vikes 18

In 14-under action, Tranyce Peoples scored a team-high seven points, but the high-powered Mean Green all-star team led 42-14 at the half. Each team scored just four points in the second half.

L. Vipers 44, Lady Vikes 41

In the bronze medal game, Ashley Johnson scored 16 and Brittany Banks scored 11 in the win. Both players are in WC’s program.

The Lady Vikes were led by Peoples’ 22 points.

L. Vipers 38, So. Flames 31

Carla Latham and Johnson, both Warren Central products, scored 12 each and Seleda Montgomery scored 10 in the win.

M. Green 84, l. Vipers 60

Janie Mitchell scored 50 points for the winners in the title game. Johnson and Latham scored 20 and 16, respectively.