A.E. Wood Coliseum was almost deserted. Mississippi Collegesports information director Chris Brooks was tying up a few looseends in his office before heading home. It had been anotherbasketball doubleheader for the MC basketball teams.

Out on the hardwood floor, freshman forward Lacey Palomarezproduced a series of jump shots, spin moves and rebounds. Shedribbled back and forth, focused on the basketball goal and glassbackboard, perspiration dotting her forehead.

Brooks smiled and recalled the moment. “Lacey had just scored 33points for us. I asked her if she hadn’t had enough basketball forone night.”

Her reply. “This is what I do.”

Certainly, Palomarez has a work ethic second to none. She isaveraging 19.2 points per game, ranking her fifth in the AmericanSouthwest Conference. She has helped lead the Lady Chocs to a 13-3record and first place in the ASC East Division race. She was againselected as ASC Player of the Week.

Obviously, Palomarez loves the game of basketball. MC coach PaulAllen Duke recognizes the extra practice produced by the talentedfreshman from Enterprise.

“Lacey will come in (Coliseum) and shoot at 7 a.m.,” said Duke.”I’ve had the security guard call me at home at night. ‘There’s agirl down here who wants to get in the gym.’ That’s Lacey.”

Against Louisiana College Monday night, Palomarez produced a35-point outburst. An above average shooter, she made 15 of 20field goal attempts and 5 of 6 free throws. Those are great numbersfor an NBA player.

In the second half, when Louisiana College crept within 7points, 37-30, Palomarez went on a tear. In less than 9 minutes shesacked 8 field goals from all sides of the lane.

The work ethic isn’t new. Enterprise coach Billy Vaughn sharedsome memories of Palomarez.

“Lacey always has been focused,” said Vaughn. “She has a greatattitude. She knows it takes hard work to improve.”

Named Miss Basketball on THE DAILY LEADER’s All-Lincoln CountyBasketball Team last year, Palomarez wasn’t well known outside ofthis area. She landed a berth on the Mississippi All-Star Team’sSouth squad. Palomarez dominated the all-star game and was namedMVP. She had arrived.

“When you come from a 1A school and don’t play big schools, youalways wonder if you can play,” said Vaughn, taking the player’sviewpoint. “The all-star game really showed her. It gave Lacey someconfidence.”

An outstanding student, Palomarez considered her scholarshipoptions. Copiah-Lincoln Community College wanted to sign her.However, Mississippi College won the battle and is reaping thebenefits.

Palomarez works to improve her game while some scholarshipathletes are content to come to practice, sweat for an hour andquickly head for the closest fast-food establishment.

Vaughn said Palomarez enjoys basketball. “She always came to thegym. That’s her relief for stress. She gets by herself andunwinds.”

Palomarez, standing 5-11, is among three freshmen starting forthe Lady Chocs. The others are 5-5 guard Lacey Kovach of Albany,La., and 5-11 forward Tara Chez Britton of Jackson. BrookhavenAcademy product Katie Newman is a 5-5 sophomore and starts at pointguard. Nikki Conway is a 6-foot forward junior from Canton. RustiSmith is a senior guard from West Lincoln.

The MC men are in the thick of the race for a berth in the ASCTournament. Coach Don Lofton’s Chocs are 12-5 overall and 3-1 inthe ASC East, in third place. They play at Austin College inSherman, Texas, tonight. On Saturday, both MC teams are atUniversity of the Ozarks in Clarksville, Ark.

Brookhaven Academy product Chad Smith starts at guard for theChocs and BHS grad B.J. Black is a reserve post player. Both arejuniors who transferred from Copiah-Lincoln Community College.

Also in the starting lineup for MC are Mendenhall junior CareyCrain at point guard, Kilbourne, La. product Lance Johnson atguard, and 6-4 Robert Green of Shreveport, La. and 6-5 TracyPhillips of Carthage (Leake Academy) at forward, both seniors.

Lofton, a BHS grad, is in his first year as head coach at MC. Alongtime assistant coach of 18 years, he replaced Mike Jones whomoved up to full-time athletic director. Jones retired after 14seasons and 286 wins.

Brookhaven Country Club general manager and PGA professionalRonny Ross wants to meet with area high school golf coaches Mondayafternoon at 3:30. He encourages coaches to bring their golf teammembers with them.

Ross said golf teams from this area will be allowed to practicefree of charge at the BCC. He wants to discuss a practice schedulewith the coaches.

Panthers in soccer playoffs. Fresh from anopening-round, 5-3 win over Picayune in overtime, the Brookhavensoccer team travels to Pascagoula’s War Memorial Stadium Saturdayto play the Gautier Gators in a Class 4A test. Kickoff is 1p.m.