WESSON – Sophomore playmaker Ayme Beeson and her Co-Linteammates found a way to win Thursday night in the championshipfinals of the MACJC State Basketball Tournament. The Lady Woivesovercame cold shooting and an inspired Southwest team to edge theLady Bears 67-65 in jam-packed Mullen Gymnasium.

In the men’s title game, the Pearl River Wildcats rallied toknock off the Northwest Rangers 92-83.

Beeson provided a pair of 18-foot jump shots and a free throw inthe last two minutes of the game, helping Co-Lin remain unbeaten in28 games. As a partisan crowd chanted, “Defense! Defense!,” theLady Wolves clawed their way back from a 10-point, 49-39, deficitin the final 15 minutes of the game.

“I’m still shaking,” said Beeson, a 5-4 guard from Calhoun, La.”I knew if we were going to win, a lot of players had to step up.Monica (Townsend) came in for me and played good defense. We didn’tgive up.”

Beeson hit her first points of the game with 1:54 left to play,pulling Co-Lin within a point at 65-64. At the 1:17 mark, Beesontossed in another long shot from the left side and Co-Lin had itsfirst lead of the second half at 66-65.

“I saw that I was open and I made the shots,” said Beeson.

Southwest coach Mark Swindle called a timeout with 26 secondsshowing to set up a game-winning shot. Guard Tramiecia Williamslaunched a jumper from 18 feet but it bounced off the rim and wentout of bounds with 2.1 seconds left on the clock. Beeson was fouledon the inbounds play and made the front end of the bonus, rattlingthe rim before the shot dropped through.

The Lady Wolves, ranked No. 3 in the nation, celebrated thecomeback victory and hoisted the gold basketball trophy aloft asthe crowd applauded. Southwest (19-8) absorbed its third loss toCo-Lin this season and was left with a bitter defeat.

“That was close and we were fortunate to win,” said Co-Linwomen’s coach Gwyn Young. His Lady Wolves won a second straightstate title and seek a repeat as Region 23 Tournament championsnext week at Mississippi College in Clinton. They are expected toplay Tuesday.

“Southwest was focused and they were playing hard,” said Young.”They were forcing us into mistakes. Defensively, we were gettingoutplayed.”

Young’s Lady Wolves had whipped Southwest 73-48 on Feb. 17, atWesson. This time the Lady Bears almost pulled a monstrousupset.

Sophomore forward Nikki Blakely provided the Wolves with asecond-half spark, scoring all 10 of her points.

“We needed some people to step up and start shooting from theoutside,” said Young. “Southwest was packed in a zone defense.”

Guard Tiania Burns led Co-Lin with 19 points. Sophomore centerShaquita Smith went to work in the second half and finished with 17points and 13 rebounds.

Beeson dished out 5 assists and Loretta Martin made 4steals.

The Wolves were confronted with an 8-point, 53-45 deficit and10:10 remaining in the game. Burns sank a layup, Townsend banked ina trey off the glass and Burns scored from the lane, closing thegap to 55-54 with 6:50 left.

Nakeya Downing, Southwest’s talented 6-0 sophomore post fromAmite, La., led all scorers with 25 points, including 2 treys.Williams finished with 15 points. Tara Abdul-Hadi collected 14points and 9 rebounds.

For the game, Co-Lin shot a cold 36 percent from the field,making 27 of 76 field goal attempts. The Wolves outreboundedSouthwest 35-27.

The first half ended on a high note for Southwest. Burns pickedup her third personal foul when she tried to stop Williams frommaking a trey. Williams made 2 of 3 free throws with no timeshowing and the Bears led 34-28.