By Brad Greer

Both the North Delta boys and girls basketball teams came away with mixed results in Wednesday’s opening-round action of the  Kirk Academy Invitational Tournament.

Senior Jim Tom Copeland poured in 22 points and 12 rebounds to power the Green Wave to a 53-48 overtime victory over Columbus Heritage in the boys side of the bracket. Bryan Nickle chipped in 13 points while Derrick Shawn and Matthew Barefoot added eight and five points, respectively.

Corbin Baker and Tylor Lee contributed with three and two points, respectively. North Delta, (10-3) takes on West Memphis, Ark. today at 5:15 in the semi-final round.

Lady Green Wave

Meanwhile on the girl’s side of the bracket, the Lady Green Wave dropped a 39-27 tilt to Heritage. Junior Laci Dubravec led North Delta with 10 points followed by Hanna and Madison Greenlee with eight and five points, respectively.

Braid Beard added four points, 11 rebounds, five steals and three assists for the Wave. North Delta will now take on the Oak Hill/ Pillow loser tomorrow afternoon at 3:30 in a losers’ bracket contest.

 Heritage was led in scoring by Rachel Holloway’s 15 points. The 6’4” Holloway is the No. 3 rated junior prospect in the country, according to Rivals.com.

North Delta opened the 2011 portion of its schedule with four easy road victories at Tunica Academy Monday night.

Sophomore Charla Shea Darby scored 18 points and led the North Delta girls to a 59-16 romp over Tunica in the opening game.

Madison Greenlee followed with 13 points while Hanna Greenlee registered a double-double with 11 points and 10 rebounds.

Beard pulled down 10 rebounds to go along with six points while Hannah Waldrip also added 10 rebounds, seven assists and three points for North Delta. Katelyn Still rounded out the scoring with eight points and six steals.

Green Wave Boys

The North Delta boys meanwhile handed the No. 3 ranked Blue Devils its first loss of the season with a convincing 57-38 victory as Copeland poured in 22 points and 11 rebounds to lead the way.

NDJH Girls

In junior high action, Hastings Neal and Erin Snider each recorded 13 points and six steals to power the Wave to a 45-6 win.

Mary Lynn Lewis followed with six points while Claire Gant, Julianna Morrow and Jordan Pullen added four points each. Callie Blake Masterson contributed with five steals, five assists and one point.

The North Delta 7th & 8th grade girls remained undefeated on the season with a 22-6 win over the Blue Devils.