By Brad Greer

After dropping a 54-50 verdict at home to North Panola Friday, the Rosa Fort boys basketball team turned the tables on the Cougars with a 56-49 victory Saturday night in Sardis.

Kevis Flemming and Keith Turner scored 11 points each to spark the Lions who led by as many as 13 points  in the third quarter before holding off a late fourth quarter charge by the Cougars.

North Panola (15-6) saw their four-game winning streak come to an end which was led in scoring by Gerotney Kelson with 11 points.

Trailing 45-35 after three quarters of play, the Cougars cut Rosa Fort’s lead in half at 48-43 on  Darrius Jackson’s underhand scoop shot with 5:10 remaining in the game. Kelson later made it a one possession game with a three-point play  that pulled the Cougars within three at 50-47 at the 3:58 mark.

That however would turn out to be as close as North Panola would get as Flemming knocked down five of six free throws in the final three minutes to provide the winning margin.

Ketawan House scored North Panola’s last points on a layup to make the score 54-49 with 2:34 left to play. House was held to six points on the night after a 20-point effort in the Cougar’s Friday night victory.
Devonte Howard’s three-pointer   staked North Panola to an early 8-3 first quarter lead before the Lions roared back to take a 15-14 advantage after one period of play.

Back-to-back treys by Marvin Oliver and Flemming gave the visitors a 23-20 lead with 3:39 left in the first half. Kendarious Hibbler and Turner added a pair of baskets to extend the Lion lead to 31-25 at halftime.

North Panola shot 17-of-41 from the  floor for 41 percent while Rosa Fort connected on 21-of-40 for 52 percent for the game. The Cougars connected on 10-for 15 shots at the free throw line while turning the ball over 13 times.

Howard and Jackson followed Kelson in scoring with nine points each while Robert Oliver added eight. Anjayvious Farmer and Demetrick Porter rounded out the scoring with four and two points each.

North Panola (girls) – 58 Rosa Fort – 30
While the North Panola boys saw their four-game winning streak come to a end, the Lady Cougars extended their streak to four games with a 58-30 rout.

Daryleshia Ward poured in 17 points while sophomore Onesha Hunt added 16 points including 12 in the first half as North Panola improved to 11-10 on the season.

Hunt and teammate Teariny Wheatley combined for 41 points in a 51-29 Cougar win Friday night in Tunica.

North Panola led 13-8 after one quarter of play but then blew the game open by outscoring the Lions 16-1 in the second period to take a commanding 29-8 lead at halftime.

Audrea Taylor nailed a three-pointer while Hunt added a pair of free throws as the Cougars extended their margin to 41-19 late in third quarter before leading by 30 points early in the fourth quarter.

Wheatley, who led North Panola in scoring with 21 points Friday night, registered nine points while Anna Johnson contributed with seven. Whitney Pettis  chipped in with six and Taylor finished the contest with three points.

The Lady Cougars connected on 21-of-43 shots from the field and 12-of-23 at the charity stripe.

North Panola hosts Byhalia tonight in a key Region 3-3A contest beginning a 6 p.m., following the junior varsity contests which begins at 4 p.m.