By Angie Ledbetter

Despite 28 points from South Panola’s Christa Brown, MaxPreps Player of the week for the sixth time this year, the South Panola Lady Tigers lost to Tupelo 71-59 in the first round of the district tournament.

The Lady Tigers ended their season 8-10 in the tournament played in Columbus.

The Lady Tigers entered the tournament in third place with only one division win over Grenada.

Tupelo will take on the No. 1 Columbus tonight for the championship.

Tupelo came out strong and took a 27-13 first quarter lead.     

Christa Brown scored 11 of South Panola’s 18 points in the second quarter but Tupelo scored 15 for a 42-31 halftime lead.

Both teams scored 17 points in the third quarter as Tupelo lead 59-35 going into the final quarter.

Tupelo maintained its consistent lead, outscoring South Panola 12-11 in the final quarter to advance to the championship round.

Brown led the Lady Tigers with 28 points, five rebounds, three assists and three steals. She hit six of eight from the free throw line.

Chresha Brown scored 18 points, one rebound, one assist and one steal. She was 100 percent from the free throw line, two-for-two, 66 percent from the floor and 57 percent from three-point range, four-for-seven.
Other scorers include Crystal Contreras, six points, nine rebounds, one assist, three steals; Strong, five points, two rebounds, one assist; and Raven Brown, two points, seven rebounds and one steal.

Tigers

The Tigers entered the tournament looking to extend their season by taking on the division leader, Tupelo, but saw their season end as Tupelo overwhelmed the Tigers 65-39.

The Tigers finished with a 7-11 overall record. Tupelo will take on host Columbus for the championship.

Tupelo dominated the first half taking a 28-13 lead at halftime.

Troy Collins knocked down a three from the right while R. J. Scott added a pair of field goals to give the Tiger’s 12 in the third but Tupelo scored 16 to lead 45-25 going into the final quarter.

The Tigers were on fire in the final quarter from the three point base.  Statavius Miles shot a pair of three-pointers while James Watson and Eric Booker sank one each. Kendell Turner finished the scoring with a field goal giving the Tigers 14 points.

Watson led the Tigers with 12 points, four rebounds, one steal, followed by Booker with seven points and three rebounds. Other scorers include Miles, six; Jaylen Lee, five points, three rebounds, five steals; Scott, four points, three rebounds; and Turner, two points, two rebounds.