By Myra Bean
The South Panola Lady Tigers are sitting pretty after downing Starkville 61-51 in a pivotal district game Friday night.

The Lady Tigers faced a determined Lady Yellowjacket team whom they had lost to by two points on January 11. The Yellowjackets proceeded to shutout leading scorer Sabrina Townsend, but “she always finds a way to score,” said Lady Tiger head coach Ralph Stallings.

After this win, the Lady Tigers are sitting in the No. 2 spot and are expected to play Columbus in the first round of the district tournament next Tuesday in Columbus.

Tupelo is No. 1.

“Nobody else would help us out and beat Tupelo,” Stallings said.

Tupelo has two district losses and South Panola has three.

The difference in this game and the first game, according to Stallings, is South Panola did not play their game.

“Friday, we played well from beginning to end,” Stallings said.

The Lady Tigers faced a “junk defense,” as Stallings called it, to try take Townsend out of the game.

“Vetorra (Cole) and Montieth (Brewer) stepped up,” Stallings said.

After this win, Stallings said he has a good feeling going into the end of the season and the district tournament.

“As well as we are playing now, I feel real good,” he said. “We are playing our best basketball we have played all year and you want that going into the divisional tournament.”

The Lady Tigers have now won their last six games.

South Panola had a 17-15 first quarter lead, but was down 35-31 at halftime.

The Lady Tigers held Starkville to five points in the third quarter while scoring 13 to pull away. South Panola outscored Starkville 30-16 in the second half.

Scoring in double figures for the Lady Tigers were Cole, 16 points; Brewer, 15 points; and Townsend, 11 points.

The Lady Tigers will take on Independence in non-conference action tonight at 6 p.m. Friday, they will host Clarksdale beginning at 6 p.m. in the final game of the season where seniors will be recognized.