From press reports

FULTON - Both of Itawamba Community College's basketball teams are gearing up for the regular season.

Lady Indians head coach Nanci Gray and her program, which won 20 of their last 22 games a year ago, are coming off an impressive victory over Gadsden State (Ala.) on the road Friday night, 96-59, in their second exhibition contest of the pre-season. ICC, despite five in double figures led by Starkville's Courtney Cannon's 22, lost in its exhibition opener against NAIA power Lambuth University, 91-89, the previous week.

"It's great to see us scoring that many points in our two pre-season games," said Gray, who was a player in 1975 on the only other Itawamba state championship team. "I sure hope our offensive production continues in the regular season."

Head coach Marty Cooper's Indians lost four key starters and also an all-state sixth man from last season's squad that finished 30-4 and fifth in the final poll of the year by the NJCAA but won all three of their exhibition games. The game Saturday night against Shelton State will be a matchup of two teams that advanced to the NJCAA National Tournament in Hutchinson, Kansas a year ago.

"The competition level steps up big-time for us this weekend," said Cooper, who has led his squads to back to back Region 23 titles. "Motlow State was 27-4 a year ago and should have made it to "Hutch" but got upset in the regional finals and of course Shelton State is always a team listed among the best in the nation."