By Myra Bean
The North Panola Lady Cougars were eyeing a championship finish in the 2-3A district tournament, but a second round loss to Holly Springs waylaid their plans.

The two teams have battled throughout the season and split the matchup. However, Holly Springs had the answer Thursday night in a 52-46 win. The loss dropped the Lady Cougars to the consolation round against Charleston scheduled for Friday afternoon, but winter weather forced officials to change the consolation and championship games to Saturday.

It was just not in the cards for the Lady Cougars as they fell to Charleston 50-36. This was a surprising outcome as North Panola had defeated Charleston both times in the regular season.
With that loss, the Lady Cougars will play Ruleville Central tonight or tomorrow night in the first round of the north state. The game was changed from last night and the final decision was not determined at press time. The winner plays the winner of the Kemper County/Kossuth game Thursday at 7 p.m.

Holly Springs 52, North Panola 46

Cougar senior Shaquanta Pettis, an All-District selection, struck first for the Lady Cougars at the 7:33 mark, but then Charleston went ahead 9-4. Onesha Hunt, the other All-District selection, sank two free throws with 1:53 left in the first quarter and then scored in the low post with 58.6 second left to make the score 12-6, which stood at the end of the quarter.

The Lady Cougars had a better second quarter, scoring 11 points. They were plagued by turnovers, fouls, missed three-pointers and a lack of rebounds throughout the first quarter.
The three-point angel visited the Lady Cougars as they combined for four three-pointers in the third quarter and had one more in the fourth.

Back-to-back three-pointers by seniors Kityra Webb and Pettis cut the lead to three, 26-23. Pettis’ next field goal brought the Lady Cougars within one, 26-25.

Again back-to-back three-pointers by Junior Cougar Kiana Willingham and Webb gave the Lady Cougars their first lead since the beginning, 31-30, with 3:35 left in the third quarter. Holly Springs answered but on an offensive rebound and put back Hunt gave the Lady Cougars the lead again, 33-32. Hunt scored the second of two free throws for the 34-32 lead, but Holly Springs tied the game at 34 with 1:00 left in the quarter.

Holly Springs went ahead 36-34 but Pettis tied the game at 36 as time expired for the third quarter.

After another tie at 38, the Lady Cougars pulled ahead 43-40 on an offensive rebound and put back by Hunt. After Holly Springs tied the game at 44, the Lady Hawks were instrumental in shutting the Lady Cougars down on a 6-2 run with their full court press the last two minutes of the game.

Hunt was the team’s leading scorer with 16 points, followed by Pettis with 14. Other scorers include Webb, seven points, Willingham, six points; and Denisha Montgomery, two points.
Charleston 50, North Panola 36

The Lady Cougars invaded Charleston’s home court with a vengeance and ended the first quarter ahead 13-4. The tides of fortune changed as point guard Willingham went down in the second quarter with an ankle injury that sidelined her until late in the third quarter.

In the second quarter, North Panola was outscored 12-2, to be down 16-15 at halftime. The Lady Cougars revamped and came back with some hot shooting in the third quarter. The teams went point for point, but Charleston still had a slight edge going into the final quarter, 34-31.

The fourth quarter belonged to Charleston as North Panola only scored five points, while Charleston maintained its offensive presence to take third place in the district tournament.
Hunt led again in scoring with 19 points. Other scorers include Webb, six points; LaErica Spann, four points; Kenya Edwards, Montgomery and Leah Shorty, two points each.