NP girls down Rosa Fort in nail biter; boys fall

By Ike House

The Cougars kicked off their home campaign Friday with a game against the Rosa Fort Lions. The boys junior varsity started off the night with a victory.

Junior Varsity Boys

The Cougars had the contest in their hands the entire game winning 41-32. 

They jumped out early on the Lions and never looking back and the game was never close as the Cougars dominated for the entire contest. Inside play for the junior varsity was difference and the Lions couldn’t find an answer .

The Cougars played a complete game with their inside and perimeter game was in sync. The Lions made a late push trying to get back in the game but it was too little, too late as the Cougars ran away with the win.

Leading the junior varsity was Sylvonta Oliver with 11 points. Other scorers were Davonte Cathey, nine, Roydarius Jackson, five; Jarcis Echols and Phillip Mangrum, four each; Clarence Taylor and Antwayn Stasher, three each; Tyler Shorter, two points; and Marion Fenner Jr. and Mardarikkias Walls, one each. 

Lady Cougars 57, Rosa Fort 53

The Lady Cougars won a nail-biter 57-53 over the Lady Lions. The Lady Cougars came out strong with sophomore Kenya Edwards leading the team early. She fought for loose balls and got tough rebounds as well getting the line early. 

Seniors Kiana Willingham and Sha’Quanta Pettis forced turnovers that helped the girls get to a big lead.

The Lady Cougars jumped out to an eight point lead in the third quarter but Rosa Fort fought back the rest of the night. The Lady Cougars battled to hold on to the lead and had close encounters with losing the lead on a couple of occasions. 

In the fourth when things came down to the wire, Pettis stepped up with two big steals and four quick points that pushed the Lady Cougars ahead. Late in fourth the Lions were forced to foul and send the Lady Cougars to the line. They sank all of the free throws and escaped with the win. 

Leading the scoring for the Lady Cougars was Willingham with 17 points. Pettis was right behind with 14 and Edwards had 12. Other scorers were Leah Shorty with four, LaErica Spann with three, Shanique Burnette, KiTyra Webb and QuiTonya Webster with two points each and Jasmine Mays, one point. 

Rosa Fort 44, Cougars 38

The Cougars did not have the same success as the junior varsity and Lady Cougars as they fell to the Lions, 44-38. The other Cougar teams jumped out early and so did the varsity, but that lead did not last. 

The Cougars had to battle the entire game and fell in clutch time. North Panola failed to pull down key rebounds and was out rebounded. 

Without the play of injured Jordan Dandridge, the Cougars started freshman Mario Fenner Jr. The Cougars were short on big bodies to fill up the void in low post. 

Scoring for the Cougars came from Jamarcus Jones and Demetrick Porter. The Cougars missed crucial free throws in the last minute that could have tied the game. 

Leading the Cougars were Porter with 15 points and two rebounds. Jones had 13 and seven rebounds. Vennis Mills had four, two rebounds and one assist. Davonte Cathey had four points. Demetrick Moore had two points and two rebounds.  Fenner had five rebounds and two assists. Darrell Yound had four rebounds, Tremayne Madlock had two rebounds, Jarvis Renix and Ankeyvias Harris had one each.