By Brad Greer

Riding a four-game winning streak, the South Panola Lady Tigers looked to keep the momentum going as they hosted Tupelo in the final home basketball game Tuesday.

Unfortunately, 25 turnovers were to much to overcome as the Tigers fell 65-52 in a District 2-6A contest.

The Golden Wave improved to 15-6 and 3-1 in division play while South Panola dropped to 1-3 and 10-9 overall.

Crystal Mays paced South Panola in scoring with 18 points while senior Marshala Doyle playing her final game at home finished with 10 points.

Keniya Ford’s three-pointer and subsequent free throw pulled the Lady Tigers within two at 52-50 with 3:06 left to play before Tupelo closed out the game going on a 15-2 run.

The Golden Wave connected on 11 of 12 free throws in the fourth quarter including six in a row by Che’mya Carothers in the final two minutes. Jalancia Kohlheim, who led all scorers with 21 points, converted four trips to the charity stripe.

Both teams went back and forth for most part of the night with Tupelo clinging to a 41-40 lead going into the fourth quarter. Bailey Ware rattled home a three pointer that  gave South Panola a brief 43-41 lead before Tupelo went on a 11-3 spurt to take a 52-46 advantage.

Mayes scored 11 of her 18 points in the third quarter including a buzzer-beating trey that ended the period. Ware and Ford garnered eight points each while Ladayshia Robinson added four. Aliya McGhee and Takyra Webster finished with two points each.

Varsity Boys

Tupelo 66, SP52

The Golden Wave boys remained unbeaten in district play with a 66-52 win over South Panola.

The Tigers (4-12, 0-4) took an early 8-2 lead in the first quarter before Tupelo went on a 6-0 spurt and led 17-12 after one quarter of play.

J’Tavion Hicks paced South Panola with 19  points while Eldridge Brooks followed with 17.

Tupelo built up a 41-30 lead with 4:10 remaining in the third quarter before the Tigers cut the margin to 51-47 with 4:38 left in the game.

Brooks nailed a trey from the corner to pull the Tigers within three at 53-50 less than a minute later, but they would get no closer.

Keith Cole and JaMicheal Ford had five points for South Panola while Stanwon Porter added three and Issac Sturdivant finished with two points. Terry Bishop rounded out the scoring with one point.

South Panola visits Columbus tonight in a 6 p.m. tipoff.