By Myra Bean

It was a tug-of-war affair all night long, but M.S. Palmer got the last minute surge and the 46-43 non-district win Tuesday night.

The Cougars (8-7 overall, 2-2 district) had scored up to 85 points in previous games, but the Palmer Dragon defense was breathing hot air all night long.

Palmer knew which Cougar players to neutralize and held the top three scorers to a total of 30 points. Cameron Shorty scored 12 points, followed by Brandon Bagwell with 10 points nand Ricky Hunt to eight points.

However, the Cougars held Palmer to one of their lowest scores of the season, also. Only two players for the Dragons scored in double digits, Zaveriah Watson, 16 and Lakendrick Conley, 13.

Shorty scored six points in the first quarter to lead the Cougars to a 10-9 advantage at the end of the first quarter. Palmer’s pressure defense caused the Cougars to turn the ball over numerous time, but their struggles at the basket kept Palmer from gaining the lead for a long period of time.

The game had 15 lead changes and was tied five times.

The Cougars had a one-point, 19-18, lead going into halftime. North Panola took the lead at 16-14 on a Kiwanis Bobo field goal on an assist from Darrius Jackson with 4:27 left in the half.

On an interception by Bagwell and two free throws by Terrance Turman, the Cougars led 18-14 with 2:23 left in the half.

A free throw by Bagwell gave the Cougars a 19-16 lead with 1:27 left in the half. Palmer cut the lead to one with 3.12 seconds left in the half on a field goal by Neco Pugh.

The teams were neck-and-neck in the third quarter. Palmer outscored the Cougars 13-12 to tie the game at 31 going into the fourth quarter. Neither team led more than two points at a time.

Cold shooting and fouls sealed the Cougars’ fate as Palmer took the lead 34-33 with 6:48 left in the game and never looked back.

Palmer increased the lead to 38-34 before the Cougars fought back and pulled within one point, 38-37 with 2:45 left in the game.

As the Cougars missed their shots, Conley scored on four back-to-back baskets to give Palmer its biggest lead of the game, seven points, 46-37 with 1:08 left in the game.

North Panola kept on fighting with back-to-back three-pointers by Jackson and Turman to pulled within three, 46-43, with 26.6 seconds left in the game. However, they missed their last two three-point shot attempts.

Turman and Bobo contributed with five points, while Jackson scored three.

Lady Cougars

The Lady Cougars (2-13 overall, 1-3 district) were no match for the Lady Dragons after they got hot at the basket and fell 62-41.

The first quarter was not nice to either team. It was 4:56 before Palmer scored its first basket of the game. The Lady Cougars tied it up at 4:29 on a steal and field goal by Candace Mottley.

Palmer went up 6-2 before Anna Johnson scored for the Lady Cougars with 2:05 left in the quarter. Palmer led 11-6 after the first quarter and 27-10 at halftime.

In the second half, Palmer outscored the Lady Cougars 35-29.

Mottley led the Lady Cougars with 15 points, followed by Angelica Davidson with 11. Other scorers include Teariny Wheatley, 6 points; Darlyshia Ward, 4 points; Johnson, 3 points; and Andrea Taylor, 2 points.

Palmer’s April Walter led all scorers with 16 points.

The Cougars return to district action tonight on the road at Senatobia. They return home Tuesday night to host Lafayette County in district action. The games start at 6 p.m.