Next Level leans on stingy defense to take down Natchez Warriors, 11-2
Published 12:00 am Sunday, March 26, 2017
Next Level’s Dorian Taylor tries to escape the pressure applied by Natchez Warriors’ Kahari McNeal Saturday during a youth basketball game at McLaurin Elementary. (Reed DeSalvo | The Natchez Democrat)
Next Level’s Shari Watts dribbles up the floor during Saturday’s showdown. (Reed DeSalvo | The Natchez Democrat)
Next Level youth basketball player Kendon Milligan eyes the basket Saturday during a basketball game against Natchez Warriors at McLaurin Elementary. (Reed DeSalvo | The Natchez Democrat)
Natchez Warriors’ Kortlin Harris is defended by Next Level’s Kendon Milligan Saturday. (Reed DeSalvo | The Natchez Democrat)
Natchez Warriors 8-and-under player Daylan Haywood gets swarmed by the Next Level defense Saturday. (Reed DeSalvo | The Natchez Democrat)
Next Level player Kendon Milligan dribbles up the floor during an 8-and-under youth basketball against the Natchez Warriors Saturday morning at McLaurin Elementary in Natchez. (Reed DeSalvo | The Natchez Democrat)
Next Level jumped out to a 5-2 halftime lead and made its advantage hold up as the Ferriday-based squad topped the Natchez Warriors 11-2 in an 8-and-under Miss-Lou showdown Saturday morning.
“They played good defense,” Next Level coach Steve Wilson said. “We didn’t foul, we moved our feet, played full court and pressed the ball.”
Gregory Epps got the Natchez Warriors on the board early in the first, but the Warriors were unable to sustain its offensive attack throughout.
“This was our first game together, so the kids were getting used to playing wide open basketball,” Warriors coach Jeff Thomas said. “We were missing a lot of kids today. They had their full team, and we only had a few of our original players.”
Paul’Terian Swanson led Next Level with four points, while Robert Taylor and Malcom Graham each chipped in with a basket of their own.
“It’s a new team,” Wilson said. “Playing with new people is hard, but they are getting it right. For not being able to practice that much, they are playing well right now.”
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