By Brad Greer

The North Panola Lady Cougars could not have started the 2011-12 basketball season in more dramatic fashion than they did with a 39-35 overtime win over Coahoma County AHS at home Saturday night.

Teariny Wheatley hit the back end of two free throws with 12 seconds left to tie the game at 35-35 in regulation to send the game into overtime.

From there it was all Cougars as North Panola outscored the Aggies 4-0 in the extra period. Daryleshia Ward and Takymdris Clay connected on baskets in overtime.

Coahoma County AHS, who took a 35-34 lead on Jalissa Smith’s layup with 56 seconds left in the fourth quarter, had a chance to win the game at the buzzer on Ashley Howard’s three-pointer that missed its target.

With the game tied at 31, Ward canned a huge three-pointer with 3:15 left in the fourth quarter to give the Cougars a 34-31 lead

“Daryleshia’s basket was huge at the time and of course Tearniny’s free throw there at the end of the fourth was big. We are looking for her to be one of  our leaders this year and that is what leaders do- make plays when the game is on the line,” said Cougar head coach Chris Yancy.

The Aggies took an 18-17 lead at halftime only to have North Panola battle back to tie the game at 25 after three quarters.

Wheatley led all scorers with 15 points while Angelica Davison followed with eight points. Ward added seven points  and Clay, Oneisha Hunt and Annastasia Johnson chipped in with two points each. Candance Mottley rounded out the scoring with one point.

In the nightcap, Coahoma County AHS came away with a 44-40 victory over North Panola boys in a game that was not decided until the final seconds as the Cougars missed the game-winning shot with four seconds remaining.

Rufus Wilkins knocked down a three-pointer from the right corner to give the Aggies a 41-40 lead with 33 seconds left in the contest.

After a timeout was called with 14 seconds remaining, North Panola set up its offense for a potential game-winning shot but Ketwon House’s jumper missed its mark. Frank Anthony then drained a three-pointer at the buzzer for the final margin of victory for the Aggies.

Poor free throw shooting proved to be the Achilles’ heel for North Panola as the Cougars converted only five-of 19 shots from the stripe.

“You’re not going to win to many ball games shooting that poorly,” said North Panola head coach Dannis Jackson. “We missed some easy shots under the basket there in the fourth quarter and not having our big man Cameron Shorty in the middle hurt also,” said Jackson.

North Panola led after all three quarters, but were outscored 17-10 in the fourth period.

Terrance Kirkwood and House led North Panola in scoring with 11 points  followed by Seredey Kelson with nine points. Vonte Howard added five points while Robert Oliver registered four. Donte Howard finished the game with two points.

North Panola played at Holly Springs last night and will return home Nov. 18  against Coldwater.