By Brad Greer
North Panola Lady Cougars held off a fourth quarter rally by Independence to take a 40-39 victory  in high school girls basketball action Monday night at Independence.

North Panola, (3-1), took a 38-27 lead into the fourth quarter only to have the Lady Wildcats outscore the Cougars 12-2 in the final eight minutes of the contest. Audrey Taylor led North Panola in scoring with 16 points while Jenisha Jackson followed with 12 points. Catonya Newsom and Brittany Patton rounded out scoring with eight and four points each.

The North Panola boys meanwhile came away victorious with a thrilling 65-64 win over the Wildcats. North Panola will open the 2009-10 home slate tomorrow night at 6 p.m against J.F. Kennedy.