For articles from 2008-2009 check out http://newhopetrojans.com/basketball/Nov 4 Starkville Daily News Article on the West Oktibbeha game.===============================================
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2/22/08 Chargers Unable to Overcome Trojans’ Hughes, Harris
John Davis, Sports Editor, Oxford Eagle
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New Hope ends Lanier’s title run
Wednesday, February 20, 2008 10:59 AM CST
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Matuszak: Tojans having very good year despite record
Thursday, January 24, 2008 10:41 AM CST
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Fedex Forum Game against BT Washington
Commerical Appeal article
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Vaughan Robinson Classic
New Hope 79 Madison Central 65
Clarion Ledger article Commercial Dispatch article
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City of Palms Tournament
New Hope 82 Plantation, Fl 78 OT
Fort Myers News-Press article
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New Hope 68 Oxford 74
Dec 15, 2007
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New Hope 68 Putnam City, Ok 72
Article from the Forrest City Times Herald
Nov 23, 2007
by Fred Conley
Garen Wright led Putnam City, Okla. to a 72-68 win over New Hope, Miss. Thursday by scoring 18 points and grabbing six rebounds.
Xavier Henry added 17 points and Joy Richardson helped out with 10.
Putnam City will face Forrest City in a winner’s semifinal game tonight at 8 p.m.
Putnam City led by as many as 15 points in the second half, before New Hope, making their second straight appearance at the Rumble, sliced the lead to less than 10 points in the fourth period, and trailed by only three points at 65-62 with 1:16 left in the game.
New Hope’s Michael Payton dropped in two free throws with 11 seconds left to get within two points at 70-68 before Brandon Jackson closed it out with two free throws for Putnam City.
New Hope senior Guard Dale Hughes, who won Wednesday night’s three-point shootout, finished with 21 points to lead all scorers while Rashanti Harris added 15 points and eight rebounds and Payton finished with 13 points.
Putnam City dropped in 12-of-15 free throws in the fourth period and finished by hitting 16 of their 23 chances from the foul line.
New Hope hit 14 of their 25 free throws, eight of those coming in the fourth period.
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New Hope 71 Forest Hill 80
Third-ranked Rebels put smudge on No. 1
From the Clarion Ledger - Jackson, MS
MADISON — Forest Hill’s season-opening victory over New Hope on Saturday might merit an asterisk since the top-ranked Trojans played without injured star Rashanti Harris.
What isn’t open for debate is that the Rebels looked very much like a team capable of hoisting a coveted gold ball next March.
Josh Moore poured in a career-high 31 points as third-ranked Forest Hill prevailed 80-71 before a full house of 2,000-plus in the marquee matchup of the Madison Central Tipoff Classic.
So just how special a triumph was it for the Rebels, last year’s Class 5A runner-up to Jackson rival Provine but competing in 4A this go-round?
New Hope, the 4A runner-up last March to Lanier, began the season ranked No. 1 by The Clarion-Ledger for the first time in school history. With Harris and senior classmate Dale Hughes, the Trojans were the only team with two players named to the prestigious Dandy Dozen.
Nevertheless, when Forest Hill’s players looked at the rankings last month …
“My kids wondered why they weren’t No. 1,” Rebels coach Clay Norton said. “The mentality was, ‘Why not us?’ “
The Rebels looked worthy of the top spot early, opening a 20-15 lead after one quarter and taking a 44-35 edge at halftime thanks primarily to dazzling play from sophomore point guard Andre Stringer and the sweet touch of Moore, a 6-foot-1 senior guard.
“Josh has improved probably more than any player from last year,” Norton said. “He’s doing some things you just can’t coach. He’s getting a quicker release on his shot. He’s really worked on that catch and pop with somebody in his face. We know he’s going to be guarded so we have to adapt.”
Dandy Dozen senior center Terrell Kennedy chipped in 13 points for Forest Hill.
Hughes, a 6-3 senior guard, scored 16 to lead New Hope, which used a revamped lineup with Harris in street clothes and his right hand covered with a cast. Harris, a rugged 6-9, 240-pound center widely considered one of the state’s top two prospects in the Class of 2008, was injured about three weeks ago when he slammed his hand against a wall in frustration after missing a shot during practice.
“Rashanti was just being competitive,” New Hope coach Robert Byrd said. “I’ve done it myself. Everybody’s done it.
“He broke two bones in his hand. We’ll get him back Monday, but we’re going to hold him out until we go to Arkansas just to make sure it’s rehabbed good.”
The Trojans will play in the Rumble on the Ridge tournament beginning Nov. 22 at Forrest City, Ark. That trip across the Mississippi River is part of Byrd’s plan as New Hope shoots for a third straight trip to the Boys State Tournament and the program’s first gold ball.
“I don’t want to get overwhelmed or nervous about anything when we come to Jackson,” Byrd said. “So we’re going to play the toughest competition we can.
“It obviously makes it a lot easier for us to score with Rashanti in the game. I don’t think Forest Hill goes to a box-and-one early with him in there. But that doesn’t have anything to do with us not guarding anybody, not stopping the ball and not rebounding.
“Everybody’s going to give us their best shot now. We have to bring it every night because if we don’t then we’ll get beat.”
October 26, 2007
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New Hope sets sights on March breakthrough
