Laquita Hardy, Otisha Porter, and Darcus Black, all returned to their starting positions.

Hardy had been sidelined due to an injury to her elbow she received in their last home game against Charleston, Jan. 28. Black and Porter were both ejected from that same game after an altercation with an opposing player. Charleston head coach Kathy Estes explained after the game that her player initiated that brawl.

Tension and frustration was visible on the faces of the Cougars, but they just couldn’t seem to shake it. Coahoma came out early with their full court press, almost crippling North Panola from the beginning. The score was 17-8 at the end of the first quarter.

In the second quarter, the Cougars started a brief comeback, when they came within six, at 23-17. That would be the only time, as Coahoma began to run away with the lead and never looked back. The halftime score was 37-25.

At the start of the second half, North Panola seemed sluggish. They made fundamental mistakes. The highlight of the third quarter, was when Derrick Faulkner, fresh off the bench, got a defensive rebound and went coast-to-coast for the lay-up and basket.

Team members and coaches include in random order Anne Claire Poland, Ashlie Mason, Marsha Golden, Joanna McKenzie, Amber Garner, Samnecia Robison, Elizabeth Cain, Jesica Crutcher, Chanda Lantern, coach, Aleia Segars, Quanneqra Woodall, Chasity Jones, Camille Willis, Jessica Cain, Kelly Cosby, Kara Tapp, Britni O’Connor, Nicole Douglas, Jessica Kelsay, Tatum Dillon, Laura Beth Simmons, Jennifer Lauderdale, Constance Collins, Cassie Corley, Tammy Wilkinson, coach.

Might be a good time for that diet you made a resolution to go on New Year’s.

I have never seen such a fluctuation in gas prices. Who’s worried about a war overseas when you are wondering if you will have to thumb it up town to earn your paycheck?

Obviously, the possibly of a war is supposed to be the cause of the rise in gas prices.

Hmmmmm. Makes you think, doesn’t it?

I have been checking the gas prices along Highway 6 each morning and afternoon to see what the changes were. At the end of last week, I just glanced at the prices. Most of the convenience stores run gas at the same price. What happened was I saw the ladder at the Fast Lane gas price sign and did a double take to see it was so much.

The price there was just a penny under the Shell station. Usually it’s about 2? less. Then the Phillips 66 station was even less than Fast Lane. One time Wal-Mart was actually higher than the Phillips 66 station. The last I looked, Phillips 66 and Fast Lane were running neck and neck. Exxon was about a penny less than Shell.

So, I have been watching the convenience stores play musical numbers with the gasoline prices.

I’m pretty sure the employees there do not much like changes prices on the gas every day, especially twice a day.

It’s a pain to get up and change those numbers. On top of that the weather has been fluctuating from rain to cold to snow to sleet to almost hot for winter weather.

As for the war, I like the idea that if we have to go to war, do what has to be done fast and get out of there. This lingering around and playing games with people who war all year long is not my cup of tea. The United States is way past the age of dictatorship government and we shouldn’t bow to those other systems of government.

Saddam Hussein never lies?