By Myra Bean

The North Panola Cougars brought home the second trophy from the Water Valley Tournament after winning all three of their games.

The Cougars scored 209 points and allowed their three opponents only 160 points to dominate the tournament.

Cougar head coach Chris Yancy said he believed the early times they played in the Northwest Mississippi Expo tournament last week was a contributing factor in how the teams played.

The Cougars were led in scoring by Dexter Robinson who had 53 points for the tournament. He also had 19 steals for the tournament. He averaged four assists per game and had 11 rebounds for the three days.

Rodriquez Thomas scored 39 points for the tournament, followed by Marico Young with 35, Aldrick Russell with 29 and Lenardo Lark with 20.

Against Coffeeville Thursday night, the Cougars won 81-68. It was all Cougar game in the first quarter as they led 27-14. Both teams were nose-to-nose in the second, but Coffeeville outscored the Cougars 22-21. The Cougars led 48-36 at the half.

Though it was close throughout the second half, Coffeeville could not overcome the first half deficit. North Panola outscored Coffeeville by one point in the second half 33-32.

Robinson led in scoring with 22 points, four assists, seven rebounds and eight steals.

Also scoring in double figures for the Cougars were Russell, 15 points; Young 12 points, nine assists; and Thomas, 12 points (four threes). Cortez Hibbler contributed nine points and seven rebounds.

The Cougars downed Charleston Friday night 67-51. The Cougars nursed a 34-28 halftime lead then exploded in the third quarter, outscoring Charleston 20-12.

Thomas scored 19 points to lead the Cougars which included four three-pointers. Robinson scored 17 points, followed by Young with eight points and six assists and Lark also with eight points and four rebounds.

North Panola defeated Water Valley 61-41. North Panola had nine players contribute to the scoring.

Young led with 15 points and six assists, followed by Robinson with 14 points. Thomas and Russell chipped in eight points each.

The Cougars will be home for the next three games. Friday they will host Tunica Rosa Fort in district action. Saturday, the Cougars will host Marks Palmer in non-district action. Tuesday, the Cougars will host Senatobia in district action. Then the teams go on the road for two games and will return home January 25.