Friday night highlights
Published 12:00 am Saturday, January 12, 2008
There was district action all around Panola County Friday night as all three local schools were at home. South Panola hosted Starkville. North Panola entertained Rosa Fort and North Delta played West Memphis.
The South Panola Tigers and Lady Tigers had a district shootout with the Starkville Yellowjackets. It was neck and neck throughout both games.
The ladies’ game was tied at 38 going into the fourth quarter, but Starkville outscored South Panola 10-8 to take a two point win, 48-46.
Lady Tiger Sabrina Townsend led all scorers with 18 points.
In the boys’ game, the Tigers were determined to knock off the No. 1 team in the state and almost did it. But almost only counts in horseshoes and hand grenades, not basketball.
The Tigers had a 35-30 lead going into the fourth quarter, but Starkville turned on their stingers and outscored the Tigers 25-12 for the 55-47 win.
Antonio Allen led the Tigers in scoring with 18 points, while Latavious Williams put up 18 for the Yellowjackets.
The North Panola Cougars are now king of the jungle, at least for one night, as they knocked off the Rosa Fort Lions 74-73 in thrilling last second action.
The Cougars were down 73-72 with 2.4 seconds left in the game when Cougar Bruce Wilbourn was fouled. It was called on the floor, but Rosa Fort was over the foul limit and Wilbourn went to the line. With this opening district win on the line, Wilbourn sank both shots. Rosa Fort called a time out and tried a little trickaroo for a last second shot, but the shot went up into the Cougar gym rafters as time expired.
Wilbourn, along with Rodriquez Thomas, led the Cougars in scoring with 20 points each. Doral Jackson of Rosa Fort led all scorers with 22 points.
The Lady Cougars looked like they were in for a whipping, but they overcame a 14-point deficit to pull within two points. Rosa Fort won 49-47.
Rosa Fort led 26-19 at halftime. The Lady Cougars were down 38-28 going into the fourth quarter.
The Lady Cougars missed six of seven free throws in the last 30 seconds to fall in the opening district match.
Lady Cougar Brittany Patton led all scorers with 21 points, followed by Jenisha Jackson with 14. Mercedes Morrow led the Lady Lions with 13 points. Lady Cougar Catonya Newsom and Audrey Taylor were held to three points each.
The Cougars will be back in action Saturday night to host Marks Palmer in non-district action beginning at 6 p.m.
The North Delta teams fell 3-1 to the Black Knights of West Memphis. The boys junior high team remained undefeated 10-0 with a 51-25 win.
The North Delta Jr. High girls lost 43-28. The varsity Lady Green Wave lost 53-41. The varsity Green Wave rounded out the evening with a 69-50 loss.