By Myra Bean

The North Panola Cougars won Tuesday night which assured them of a position in the north state tournament which begins for boys teams tonight.

However, the final two games of the 3-3A district tournament at Rosa Fort Thursday and Friday night, left the Cougars barely alive in competition.

Thursday, the Cougars fell to Rosa Fort for the third time this season, 82-66. Rosa Fort had a 42-26 halftime lead.

Even though North Panola played neck-and-neck with Rosa Fort, they could not over come the first half deficit. Both teams scored 40 points in the second half.

Rodriques Thomas was the second highest scorer of the game with 17 points. Two other Cougars scored in double figures, Kiwanis Bobo, 16 and Aldrick Russell 10. Other Cougar scorers include Ricky Hunt, 9; Darius Loveberry, Wayne Miller and Cameron Shorty, 4 points each; and Cortez Hibbler, 2 points.

Leading scorer was Martrevious Sanders of Rosa Fort, 19. Rosa Fort was also paced by Labarron Collins, 16 points; and Christopher McKay,14 points.

Friday night in the consolation game, the Cougars met the Holly Springs Hawks and lost 57-49.

Thomas was the leading scorer and only Cougar in double figures with 22 points. Leading scorer for Holly Springs was Jonathan Bownes, 17 points.

The Cougars will be on the road to play Corinth tonight at 7 p.m. Corinth is the host of the rest of the tournament if they defeat the Cougars. If the Cougars win and put Corinth out of the playoffs, the host of the rest of the tournament will be Aberdeen, Nettleton, Alcorn Central or Booneville.

Other 3A games on tap tonight include South Pontotoc at Humphreys County; Booneville at Byhalia; Amanda Elzy at Aberdeen; Houston at East Side; Holly Springs at Ripley; Marks Palmer at Nettleton; Alcorn Central at Tunica Rosa Fort.

Thursday (at Corinth, Aberdeen, Nettleton, Alcorn Central, Booneville)

4 p.m. – North Panola-Corinth winner vs. South Pontotoc-Humphreys winner

5:30 p.m.- Booneville-Byhalia winner vs. Amanda Elzy-Aberdeen winner

7 p.m. – Houston-East Side winner vs. Holly Springs-Ripley winner

8:30 p.m. – Marks Palmer-Nettleton winner vs. Alcorn Central-Tunica Rosa Fort winner

FRIDAY

6 p.m. – Semifinals

7:30 p.m. – Semifinals

SATURDAY

6 p.m. – Consolation

7:30 p.m. – Championship