By Angie Ledbetter

The South Panola varsity basketball teams started the new year off hosting their first district games with Grenada on Friday.

The junior varsity boys downed Grenada 36-30 for the first game of the night. They were up 21-12 at the half but Grenada scored 18 in the second half while holding South Panola to 12 to cut the lead.
South Panola recorded 10 turnovers and Grenada 18.

Josh Madison hit three of his three-point attempts to lead the team with 11 points.  Other scorers include Statavius Miles, 10; R. J. Scott, six; Kamdon Edwards, three; Antoine Attaway, Anferee Benson and Deshondrick Henderson, two each.

The Lady Tigers had no problem with the Lady Chargers handing them a 61-31 loss to win their first district game. South Panola shot 57 percent from the free throw line and had 15 turnovers while creating 25 turnovers for Grenada. The Lady Chargers made 53 percent from the free throw line.

The sister duo of Christa and Chresha Brown provided over half of the production for the Lady Tigers. Christa led with 19 points, six rebounds and nine steals while Chresha added 16 points and six rebounds. Chresha was hot from the three-point line hitting four of six for the night.

The Lady Tigers jumped to a 17-0 lead to end the first quarter. At the half, the Lady Tigers led 31-8.
The third quarter was a little more exciting for the Lady Chargers as they hit six baskets and made two of four free throws but the Lady Tigers continued their pace with 18 points. Lady Tigers head coach Ralph Stallings pulled from the bench the rest of the game.

Other scorers include Crystal Contreras, seven points, five rebounds and two steals; Ty’Raveen Collins, six points, seven rebounds and two steals; Raven Brown, four and six rebounds; NaPorshue Strong, three; Brittany Baker, Erica Beene and Da’Monica Davis, two each. Davis also had two rebounds.

The boys’ game was neck-and-neck until the fourth quarter when the Chargers started to pull away to win 61-50.  The Tigers had 25 turnovers and shot 55 percent from the line while Grenada had 17 turnovers and shot 73 percent from the line.

The Tigers outscored Grenada 16-14 in the first quarter and led 34-28 at the half.

Out of the Tiger’s 34 points at the half, 15 came from the free throw line in 20 attempts.

The second half for the Tigers was a different game. Both teams scored 11 points in the third.

The Chargers went on a 12-6 run tying the game at 51 with 3:06 left on the clock.  
Grenada outscored South Panola 21-6 in the final quarter.

 Tiger James Watson led in scoring with 20 points. Other scorers for the Tigers were Jaylen Lee, nine; Eric Booker, seven; Kendell Turner, seven, Andre Harris and Tevis Flowers, four each.

Oxcavious Poole led in rebounds with 12. Getting five each was Troy Collins and Lee.

The Chargers had three players in double digit scoring: Tyrin Jones, 18; LaCurtis Aller, 14; and Rakeem Griffin, 13.

The Tigers will be back in action tonight when they host district rival Tupelo at 5 p.m. and they’ll be on the road to Columbus Friday for district action.