By Angie Ledbetter

The season came to an end for the North Delta Green Wave basketball team on Thursday, February 7, in a 46-37 loss to Desoto, Ark. in the first round of the district playoffs at Delta Academy.

The Green Wave team came out struggling and continued all night fighting hard just to stay in the game. The Green Wave tried to play catch up all night but could not get it done.

Nothing went the Green Wave’s way in the first quarter. They did not score their first point until Taylor Herron made a free throw with 2:42 left on the clock. Tres Brasell added two more points in the first quarter. At the end of the quarter, the Thunderbirds led 7-3.

Desoto came out in the second quarter and put up two quick points. Brian “B” Nickle made a layup with 6:04 left on the clock for the  9-5 Desoto lead. Jim Tom Copeland went to the free throw line with 3:59 on the clock and made one shot.

The Green Wave fouled Desoto and sent them to the line for two points to put them up 11-6.

On baskets by Moore and Nickle the Green Wave pulled within three. With one minute left in the first half, Desoto hit a three to lead 16-10 at halftime.

The third quarter went better for the Green Wave team. At 4:21 the Thunderbirds scored two free throws and led 21-14. Five seconds later, John Terry Moore made a huge play hitting a three.

With 2:53 left in the third quarter, Green Wave head coach Brad Wilson made the decision to play some freshman.

Geri Lamm hit a three-pointer with 2:05 on the clock to put the Green Wave within six points. Before the quarter ended, Moore scored and the Green Wave trailed 31-22 at the end of the quarter.

The Green Wave were red hot scoring 15 points in the fourth quarter.

Moore, the only senior on the team, came out in the fourth quarter and stepped up his game. With 6:22 on the clock, he scored a three but the Thunderbirds answered putting them up 36-28. Five seconds later, Moore hit another three. Lamm scored a field goal with 5:23 on the clock to pull within five points, 38-33.

The Thunderbirds continued to gain a bigger lead over the Green Wave. Moore scored another three with only 34.8 seconds but the Thunderbirds went on to win the game 46-37.
Moore led in scoring with 21 points. Lamm scored eight points and had six rebounds. Nickle scored four points, had two rebounds, and one steal. Tres Brasell had 2 points. Copeland had one point, five rebounds, and one steal. Taylor Herron had one point and three rebounds.