By Ike House
North Panola went into “Death Valley” to face off against the Blue Devils of Water Valley on Friday night. The games were split down the middle between the boys and girls.
The Lady Cougars went into the game with a 2-1 record in district play and was looking to even things up with a win in the “Valley.” That plan would fall to shambles after losing in overtime to the Lady Blue Devils by a final of 43-42. The first half was low scoring after both teams were still below 20 going into the half with a 15-13 score.
The second half is where everything heated up. The third quarter was back and forth with both teams playing great defense after having six steals each in the quarter. In the fourth ShaQuanta Pettis continued what she started in the first three quarters after having seven going into fourth.
Pettis could not be stopped in the fourth after scoring nine points in the final quarter. The outburst scoring would not be enough as the game went into overtime after Pettis hit a last second shot to help her team go into extra minutes. In overtime Pettis did all of the scoring with seven points but it all would be in vein after Water Valley hit a buzzer beater to win the game. The Lady Cougars fell to 2-2 in district play after the loss.
Leading the Lady Cougars was Pettis with 26 points, five rebounds and a steal. Other scorers were LaErica Spann with 10 points, five rebounds and a steal. Jasmine Mays finished with three points and two steals. Kenya Edwards had two points, three steals and a block. KiTrya Webb finished with one point, three rebounds and one steal.
The Cougars finished with a better outcome after beginning district play with a 1-2 record. The Cougars had everyone on the board Friday night after a dominant victory of the Blue Devils. The Cougars put on a good showing by winning 65-40. In the first the Cougars let the Blue Devils slow them down on offense.
The Cougars only scored nine points in the first and could not put the ball in the basket from the free throw line going 5-for-12 from the charity stripe. In the second the Cougars caught fire with a 25 point quarter which was their highest scoring quarter this season.
The Cougars cruised to the finish in the second half only scoring 16 points in the third quarter and nine in the fourth. The Cougars had 11 of its 14 man roster score from the field on Friday night. Leading the way for the Cougars on the night was Mario Fenner Jr. with 12 points, three blocks, two rebounds, two assists and a steal. Other scorers were Tremayne Madlock with 10 points and five boards. Jarvis Renix had nine points, four rebounds, four assists and three steals. Demetrick Porter had eight points, four rebounds, three assist and two steals. Vennis Mills had four points, four rebounds, two assists and a steal. Ankeyvias Harris had four points and a steal. Davonte Cathey had four points, six rebounds, two blocks and a steal. Darrell Young had three points and four rebounds. Deshaun Smith had three points and two rebounds. Jordan Dandridge had two points, four assist and a rebound. Demetrick Moore had two points.
North Panola is off until January 2 where they will travel to Coldwater. The games will begin at 4p.m. starting with the junior varsity girls.