/WESSON -Co-Lin playmaker Barry Whitley didn’t don a Supermanoutfit at halftime but the Jones County Junior College Bobcats andsome basketball fans probably saw a red cape flowing behind him.Whitley exploded for 24 second-half points in leading the Wolves toan 84-74 Monday night South Division victory in MullenGymnasium.

/ A near-capacity crowd watched the Wolves erase a 33-30halftime deficit. Whitley, a wiry 5-10 guard from Baton Rouge, La.,also had 8 rebounds and 8 assists.

/ “I felt like I had to step up,” said Whitley. “In the firsthalf, I think I had seven assists. I was trying to get our teamgoing.”

/ Scoreless the first half, Whitley watched with dismay asteammate Brandon Dickerson went to the bench with a third personalfoul. “When I saw Brandon on the bench with three fouls, I feltlike I had to take over. He scores about a third of ourpoints.”

/ Less than two minutes into the second half, the Bobcats (17-7,6-5) grabbed a 9-point lead at 39-30 before Co-Lin and Whitleycaught fire. A trey by Whitley, a 2-point field goal and 2 freethrows gained Co-Lin a 46-44 lead with 13:54 left in the game.

/ Jones County coach Robert McInnis said his team’s missed freethrows and early foul trouble kept him from enjoying the halftimeadvantage. “I didn’t feel good the whole night. It’s just a matterof time when you miss free throws (9-18) and layups.”

/ Omar Barlett, JCJC’s 6-8 center from Miami, Fla., fouled outwith 8:04 left in the game. He finished with 13 points and 7rebounds.

/ McInnis said he was impressed with Whitley. “He kicked ourfreshman guard’s butt. I couldn’t find anybody to stay with him. Hestepped it up.”

/ Scottie Faulkner, a 6-2 sophomore guard from Heidelberg,scored 13 points for the Bobcats. They committed 26 turnovers.

/ Co-Lin coach Dennis Sims got 19 points from Dickerson and 12from freshman center Quentin Christian. The Wolves made 17 of 23free throws the second half and 25 of 37 for the game.

/ “Barry had as good a second half as any young man who has everplayed for me,” said Coach Sims. “He took over the game. He hadfive steals and six rebounds in the second half.

/ “Everyone picked up in the second half,” Sims continued.”(Rod) Haynes had nine assists. Quentin Christian and LorenzoTownsend did a good job coming off the bench.”

/ Co-Lin climbed to 17-5 overall and 7-4 in the South, securingNo. 3 seeding in next week’s division tournament at SouthwestCommunity College in Summit.

Co-Lin 84, Jones County 74

/ Jones Co. (74) Omar Barlett 13, Scottie Faulkner 13, Page 7,Williams 7, Sherman 5, Keys 6, Pettway 9, White 11, Sterling 3.

/ Co-Lin (84) Barry Whitley 24, C. Smith 0, Haynes 8, Porter 2,Barfield 8, B. Smith 0, Calcote 1, Black 8, Dickerson 19, Christian12, Townsend 2.

/ Halftime: Jones 33-30.

/ Total fouls: Jones 25. Co-Lin 17. Fouled out-Barlett.Technicals-Coach Sims of Co-Lin.

/ Free Throws M-A: Jones 9-18. Co-Lin 25-37.

/ 3-point goals: Dickerson 3, Page 2, Keys 2, Whitley 2, Haynes2, White, Williams, Faulkner.

/ Rebounds: Jones 34 (Pettway 7, Barlett 7). Co-Lin 37 (Whitley8, Dickerson 7).

/ Turnovers: Jones 26. Co-Lin 25. Assists: Co-Lin (Haynes 9,Whitley 8).