CLINTON – Brandi Simmons has been there before and done thattoo. The only returning starter from last season’s Co-Lin team whowon the NJCAA Region 23 Tournament crown, Simmons provided someverbal inspiration Thursday night, leading the Lady Wolves to animpressive 89-54 triumph against Meridian Community College in A.E.Wood Coliseum. She scored 15 points and grabbed 10 rebounds asCo-Lin made a successful region title defense.

In men’s action, East Mississippi managed to win back-to-backRegion 23 titles by defeating the Southern-Shreveport Jaguars71-67. Deonte Alexander pumped in a game-high 19 points to lead the12th-ranked Lions.

The Lady Wolves (25-2) also punched their ticket for a trip tothe NJCAA National Tournament that begins March 15, in Salina, Kan.They finished seventh last season when Simmons was a freshman.

“I told them we only have one game left if we lose and I didn’twant that to happen,” said Simmons. “We stepped up our game ondefense the second half and everybody played hard andtogether.”

Co-Lin, fresh from winning the MACJC State Tournament last weekat Wesson, found new life on weary legs as the Lady Wolves won 3straight games in the regional. They survived a weak first half,clinging to a 30-28 lead.

Co-Lin came to life in the final 20 minutes of action, sparkedby freshman guard Ann Shelby Davis who pumped in 17 second-halfpoints, including 3 treys. Sophomore guard Kiara Etienne alsosacked 17 points and 8 rebounds in the win, plus making 5assists.

“I felt pretty good and this was the best game I’ve had allseason,” said Davis. “We weren’t executing on offense the firsthalf but our team did much better on both ends of the court in thesecond half.”

Co-Lin shot a sizzling 66 percent from the field in the secondhalf and steadily forged a 15-point, 57-42 lead on a Simmons jumperfrom the lane with 9:01 left to play. Davis sacking a 3-pointerfrom the corner preceded that play.

Co-Lin coach Gwyn Young realized a rare double this season,winning the state and regional titles. His team played threestraight games last week en route to the state title.

“I told them, ‘You have to find something deep down inside ofyou,’ to get going in the second half,” said Young. “Our defenseand rebounding were big in the second half. When we got the lead,we played smarter, too.”

Center Sedreka Plummer and point guard Keosha Bradley each had 9rebounds in the game. The 6-foot-1 Plummer was in foul trouble,drawing her third personal with 12:59 left in the game and Co-Linleading 47-38.

Meridian (27-6), coached by the emotionally-charged HilaryAllen, shot a cold 22 percent the second half. Allen’s knit golfshirt was soaked with sweat at the end of the game.

“We played 100 minutes of good basketball, winning two gameshere and 20 minutes in the first half,” said Allen. “We did notplay well the last 20 minutes. Give Co-Lin credit. They did a goodjob on defense in the second half.”

The Lady Eagles were led by Chasity Kearney, a 5-11 freshmanfrom South Panola (Batesville) as she accounted for a game-high 18points and 11 rebounds. Playmaker Bianca Powell, a 5-5 sophomorepoint guard from Jackson (Forest Hill) added 15 points and 5assists.

Co-Lin raced to a 19-10 lead midway through the first half.Kearney directed Meridian’s comeback, closing the gap to 28-26 on 2free throws by Kearney.

It was another case of Co-Lin’s bench outscoring the opposition,this time by a 33-5 margin.

Simmons and Etienne were named to the All-Region TournamentTeam. Kearney and Norianna Haynes represented Meridian.