| By Myra Bean
The South Panola Tiger basketball Team is 8-4 overall, 0-1 district after a "sluggish" win over Cleveland Tuesday night, according to Tiger head coach Charlie Howard.
The Tigers won 49-43 being led in points by Senior Anthony Nelson with 16.
Nelson has come off the bench in the last three games to be the points leader for the Tigers.
Against Desoto Central last Thursday, Nelson scored 17 points in the 59-46 Tiger win. Last Tuesday in the first district game, Nelson was the game’s high scorer with 13 points in the 39-35 Tiger loss.
Joining the Team following the successful football Season, were Senior Rodney Gray and sophomore Darius "Tigg" Barksdale.
The Tigers were down 10-8 at the end of the first quarter against Cleveland but staged a battle in the Second quarter where they scored 16 points and led 24-16 at halftime.
The Second half was close between the two Teams but the Tigers had a big enough lead going into halftime that Cleveland was not able to overcome them and take the win.
In addition to Nelson’s 13 points against Cleveland, he had six steals, three rebounds and one block.
Joseph Hankins was the only other Tiger in double figures with 10 points, four rebounds and four steals.
Shawn Daniels scored eight points and had four rebounds, two steals and two blocks.
Cordell Austin chipped in five points, two rebounds and three steals.
Lady Tigers
The Lady Tigers have won their last three games including an overtime victory with Desoto Central last Thursday.
The Lady Tigers are 8-5 overall and 1-0 district.
Against Cleveland Tuesday night, the Lady Tigers made a dominant statement with a 43-21 win.
The Lady Tigers were down 10-6 at the end of the first quarter. All six points were scored by Sabrina Townsend.
Then six Lady Tigers scored in the Second quarter to take a 27-17 lead into halftime. Townsend and Courtney N. Jones scored six points each in the Second quarter. Jones hit six of six free throws.
The Lady Tigers practically shut down Cleveland in the Second half outscoring them 16-4.
Townsend was the game’s high scorer with 15 points.
The Lady Tigers Defeated Desoto Central 45-39 in overtime.
The score was tied at 39 at the end of regulation. Lady Tiger Kim Sanford was the only scorer in overtime and she had two field goals and a free throw.
It was a tough game for both Teams throughout.
The Lady Tigers had 13-6 first quarter lead. Then the Lady Tigers only scored six points in the Second quarter but Desoto Central scored 14 to give the Lady Jaguars a 20-19 halftime lead.
The two Teams went back at it in the Second half and the lady Tigers held a slight 25-22 lead at the end of the third quarter.
The tie came when the Lady Jaguars outscored the Lady Tigers 17-14 in the fourth quarter to force the extra time.
Sanford was the Team’s leading scorer with 17 points followed by Townsend with 10.
In the first district game of the Season against Horn Lake December 6, the Lady Tigers won 52-46.
The Lady Tigers hit 12 of 29 free throws. They had to stage a come from behind victory to claim the big district win.
Horn Lake led 17-10 at the end of the first quarter. The Lady Tigers held them to four points in the Second quarter to cut the lead 21-19 at halftime.
South Panola turned up the heat in the Second half and outscored Horn Lake 33-25 for the win.
Townsend was the Team’s leading scorer with 11 points, followed by Skylar Barnes with 10. Nine Lady Tigers scored in that game.
The Team played Olive Branch last night in the last game before the Christmas holidays. Scores were not available at press time. The Teams will not be participating in any holiday tournaments and will be back in action January 5-7 in the Oxford Tournament.
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