Stories from Friday, January 10, 2014

EPC made it four NEA titles in the last five years as they beat Maynard 57-38 to win the boys' Division I championship in the NEA Invitational Tournament. Byron Scales, who finished with 17 points and 15 rebounds, got the Warriors out to an early 4-0 with a steal and lay up to start the game and then connecting on a jumper in the lane. ...

After a close first half, EPC built as much as a 15 point lead in the third quarter before Marked Tree came storming back in the fourth but could get no closer than five points as the Warriors went on to a 58-53 win in this 2A-3 conference game. Clay Malone hit back to back three-pointers for EPC as Dee Griffin sandwiched a jumper between them for Marked Tree to make the score 6-2 EPC with 6:50 to play. ...

Marked Tree came up just short of the championship trophy in the girls' Division I NEA Invitational Tournament falling to Rector 57-56. Rector jumped out to a quick 5-0 lead with Kristen Smart canning a three-pointer and Anna Blackshare hitting two free throws. ...

Poinsett County Judge Charles Nix said this week that he will retire at the end of the year and not seek re-election for a fourth term. Nix, who turns 67 this month, said it was one of the hardest decisions he has had to make in his career. It's a decision he said he and his wife, Elaine, have been discussing for sometime...