By Myra Bean

The North Panola Cougars took on the 1A defending state champion Coldwater Cougars and lived to tell the tale.

North Panola held off Coldwater with a 64-58 win at home Friday night.

“This win shows me my boys are working hard,” said Cougar head coach Chris Yancy.

North Panola (6-3) jumped to a 12-point lead 19-7 with 47.3 seconds left in the first quarter.

“Yes, I was very surprised when we went up 12 on them,” Yancy said. “I knew it was going to be a battle. We grinded out in practice. The boys came out ready to play.”

The lead was short-lived as Coldwater held North Panola scoreless and took the lead 20-19 with 5:53 left in the second quarter. At the half, Coldwater had the 10-point lead, 39-29.

It was North Panola with the hot hands in the third quarter as Anjavious Farmer and Gerotney Kelson led the charge scoring five points each of the team’s 17 points. With 5:19 left in the quarter, the Cougars pulled within two, 39-37, of Coldwater.

North Panola held Coldwater scoreless until the five minute mark. The score remained close throughout the quarter and North Panola took a 46-45 lead with 12 seconds left.

In the fourth quarter, Robert Oliver went on the attack for the Cougars, scoring five of his 11 points, along with Ketawan House with six of his 13 points. After Coldwater took a 47-46 lead on two free throws to start the quarter, Kelson answered with a field goal and a three-pointer to put the Cougars up for good 51-47.

Kelson logged a double-double for the Cougars with 16 points and 13 rebounds. Marcel Hunt led Coldwater with 16 points.

Other double digit scorers include House with 13 points, 8 rebounds, 3 assists and 3 steals, followed by Oliver with 11 points, 9 rebounds and one steal. Other scorers include Kiev Washington, 3 points; Darrius Jackson, 2 points, 9 rebounds, 3 assists and 1 steal; and Devonte Howard, 2 points and 4 rebounds.

Junior Varsity Boys
The junior varsity boys fell to Coldwater 32-27.

Coldwater led 21-10 going into halftime. North Panola out scored Coldwater 17-13 in the second half but it was not enough to cover the deficit.

Scoring for North Panola were BreMarkwon Bobo, 9 points; Ankeyvius Harris, fivepoints; Deqiarois Lee, four points; Demetrick Porter and Darius Thomas, two points each; and Quintez Perry, one point.

The Cougars return to action Tuesday to host Charleston in the first district game of the season.

“They are young but well-coached,” Yancy said. Games start at 5 p.m. with the junior varsity boys.