By Brad Greer

A nearly packed house in the North Delta gymnasium witnessed the first ever  basketball meeting between South Panola High School and North Delta School Tuesday night.

While the South Panola boys eased past the Green Wave varsity boys 74-19 to conclude the four-game set, the most exciting action of the night was the varsity girls game as the Lady Tigers  held off North Delta 50-47.

The Green Wave avoided the sweep as the Junior High girls slipped past Batesville 29-25.

(Varsity Girls) SP 50, ND 47

Senior guard Marshala Doyle paced South Panola (3-3) with 21 points, but it was the low post play of Takyra Webster that keyed the Tigers victory. The junior scored ten of her 18 points in the fourth quarter as her three-point play gave the Tigers a 41-34 lead.

North Delta (6-4) closed the margin to four points twice in the final minute but couldn’t get any closer Crystal Mayes knocked down a pair off free throws for the final margin of victory. Ally Alford led all scorers with 26 points including four three-pointers. Hanna Bollinger chipped in 14 for the Lady Wave.

South Panola took a early 14-6 advantage after the first quarter before two Alford trays  in the second quarter cut the Tiger margin to 20-17 at halftime. The Lady Tigers opened up their largest lead of the night at 29-19 in the third quarter thanks to a  9-2 run.

North Delta would not go away however as Bollinger knocked down a three-pointer to pull the home team within two points at 34-32 early in the fourth period. Faith Bollinger supplied five points while Ashlynn Melton added a basket for the Lady Wave.

Mayes registered five points for South Panola while Bailey Ware garnered three points. Teddera Patton, Aziyah McGhee and Kaniya Ford contributed with two points each. South Panola hit 37 percent from the floor but was 14-of-23 at the free throw line including 11-for-17 in the fourth quarter.

Likewise was North Delta as the Wave shot 36 percent from the floor but only connected on 4-of-10 shots at the charity stripe. Both teams turned the ball over 12 times.

(Varsity Boys) SP 74, ND-19

The varsity Tigers improved to 2-1 on the season as all 11 players on the roster scored. South Panola led 23-3 after one quarter of play and cruised from there.

Keith Cole led the way with 13 points and two steals while J’Tavian Hicks added 10 points and three rebounds. JaMichael Ford registered eight points and three steals for the Tigers.

Other scorers included: Eldridge Brooks (seven points, six rebounds), Issac Sturdivant, Quin Hodges and Terry Bishop with six points each. Thad Kirkwood added five points followed by Stanwon Porter and Winston Winfield with four points each. Markevious Vaughn rounded out the scoring with three points.

North Delta (2-5) was led in scoring by Walt Miller with seven points while Chris Burchfield and Carter Gee provided five each. Ryan Gibson finished with two points.

(Jr. High Girls) ND 29, SP 25

Breck Brewer scored nine points, six in the fourth quarter, to lead the Lady Wave. Libby Miller added six while Sophie Williams chipped in with four. Emily Wells and Paizlee Woods registered three apiece. Shelby Boone and Ellie Gray finished with two points each in the winning effort.

Eden Jenkins and Alexis Hamilton garnered eights points each to lead the Lady Tigers. Breanna McCarty added two points while Gracie Harbour and Kiyah Cooper finished with one point each.

(Jr. High Boys) SP 36, ND 18

Jayden Smith led all scorers with 12 points as the Tigers eased their way to a victory. Coya Ford added six point while Jaterrion Dorris registered four. Brayden Martin, Demarion Hoskins, David Hubbard and Brock Ware all garnered three points in thew victory. Devonta Clay rounded out the scoring two two points.

Ridge Aldison paced North Delta with six points while Layton Wells and Aden Sykes provided four points each.

The two teams will meet again at Souht Panola Dec.17. South Panola hosts Lafayette County Tuesday starting ate 4 p.m while North Delta opens up district play on the road at Indianola Tuesday beginning at 3:30 p.m.