By Myra Bean

It was obvious from the beginning that the M.S. Palmer team was very young Friday night going against the North Panola Cougars.

Both girls and boys Cougar teams cleared the benches and let the younger players get valuable game time experience in the rout of the Dragons.

The Lady Cougars won 61-23. Marks scored 14 points in the fourth quarter. They were scoreless after the first quarter and scored nine points in the second and third quarters combined.

For North Panola (7-13, 3-4), 12 of the 15 players on the roster scored. O’Nesha Hunt did not play due to a right knee injury sustained in practice.

Angelica Davison was the leading scorer and the only one in double figures with 15 points. Other scorers include Whitney Pettis, six points; Anna Johnson, Kyla Webb, Cearea Jackson, five points each; Darlyeshia Ward, Teariny Wheatley, Shaquanna Pettis, Kianna Willingham, four points each; Takymdris Clay, Tireny Webb and Kityra Webb, three points each.

In the girls’ division, Charleston (17-2, 8-0) leads followed by Independence, Byhalia, North Panola,

Winona and Palmer in that order.

The boys game went in the same vein as the girls as North Panola knocked off Palmer 72-37 to reclaim the top spot in Region 3-3A after Winona lost to Independence 68-56.

Jerotney Kelson was the leading scorer with 18 points, followed by Vonte Howard with 12, Darrius Jackson with 11 and Eking Miller with 10.

Other scorers include Donte Howard, nine points; Robert Oliver, Kiev Washington, four points each; Willie Patterson and Terrance Kirkwood, two points each.

The Cougars (9-10 overall, 6-1 district) will travel to Winona (18-3, 5-2) tonight for a district matchup beginning with the girls’ game at 6 p.m.

Winona dropped to second in the district followed by Charleston (10-6; 4-2) and Independence (11-13; 4-2). Byhalia and Palmer round out the standings.