By Myra Bean

The South Panola Lady Tigers began the year 7-0, but have hit a skid after a 56-44 district loss to Columbus Friday night.

The Lady Tigers (11-5 overall, 0-2 district) have lost three straight games, dating back to the Northwest Mississippi Basketball Expo in Senatobia over the holiday break.

South Panola went 2-1 in the Durant Invitational Tournament held at Durant High School December 20-22.

Their lone loss was to McAdams 72-63 on December 22.

“We lost the last three games to teams I think we should have beaten,” head coach Ralph Stallings said. “We are making too many mental mistakes. It’s not just one person. It’s like a team thing.”

Columbus is a new district foe for the Lady Tiger basketball team this year. They lost to Tupelo earlier in the season.

The next district game is Friday against Starkville. Starkville lost to Columbus 56-46 on December 7.

The Lady Tigers are against the ropes in this game and will go down 0-3 in district play if they cannot do what they did at the beginning of the season.

Four Lady Tigers scored on the night. Sabrina Townsend led the Lady Tigers with 17 points, followed by Vetorra Cole with 12. Skylar Barnes scored 10 points and Essie Thomas rounded out the scoring with five.

Jamie Gunter for Columbus led all scorers with 28 points, followed by Eryn Gray with 16.

The Lady Tigers are on the road for a non-district match with Grenada tonight. Though not a district game, this rivalry is always a hot competition between the two teams. Tipoff is 6 p.m.