By Angie Ledbetter

 The South Panola Tigers started the 2008 basketball season dominating the first three games on their schedule.

The first game with Senatobia was a 67-39 victory for the Tigers. Rico Keys lead in scoring with 23 points.

Head Coach Charlie Howard said, “I thought it was a well balanced game and everybody pretty much contributed. I only have eight players and all eight of them managed to score.”

In the second game with Grenada, the Tigers won 53-45. Keys scored 28 points in that game.

On Tuesday night, the Tigers defeated Independence 59-37. Keys scored 21 points and was eight of 19 in shooting. Keenon Draper scored 11 points and was 5 of 13. Antonio Jones added 7 points and was 5 of 13 in shooting. Kerrion Moore added 6 points and was 6 of 19. Quen Robinson scored 6 points, Jason Sims added 6, and Patrick Howard added six points.

“Keys has been leading us in every ball game. He is the leading scorer so far. He plays hard,” Howard said. “You’re going to make a lot of mistakes because of the way we play. We played so sluggish in the first half and I told them at halftime that our game is up and down the floor fast paced and if they make us have to wait to score, then we’re too small and we’re not going to be able to score.

In the first game against Grenada, the Chargers  had all their players including the football players.

“We went in with eight players and beat them. It all goes back to conditioning. We do a lot of running and sprinting in the off season leading up to the regular season.”

Howard said the key to winning Tuesday’s game with Independence was coming out in the second half and stopping No. 22. South Panola held him to 15 points and he only scored two of those in the fourth.

“I’m going to attribute that to us,” Howard said. “We were able to get up and get in his face with two guys at him. We weren’t about to guard him with one guy. My guys did a good job in the last of the third quarter and the fourth quarter.

“I’m pleased overall to be 3-0 at this point and I’m hoping with my fingers crossed that once we win the football championship, I’ll have help coming in,” he added. “So that can only add to what we’re doing right now.”

South Panola hosted Senatobia last night but the score was not available at press time. The Tigers will host Cleveland next Thursday with the girls tipping off at 6 p.m.