By Brad Greer

Not many freshman playing in only their fifth game of varsity basketball can be labeled the team’s  floor  general’ by his coach, but  North Panola’s Cedquavious Hunter might have earned that after Thursday night’s performance.

Hunter scorched the nets for 21 points on 12-of-18 shooting from the floor as North Panola spoiled South Panola’s home opener 56-38 in front of a raucous crowd.

“ As of right now, he’s not playing as a freshman. We needed somebody who can handle the basketball and run our offense and be our floor general so to speak and so far he has been our guy,” said Cougar head coach Chris Yancy of Hunter, who also dished out five assists and one steal.

Mario Fenner added 17 points on five-of-five shooting from there floor and 7-of-10 at the free-throw line. It was Fenner’s first game on the basketball court after playing on the Cougar football team. J’talion Hicks paced South Panola( 2-2) with 11 points and four rebounds.

Hunter’s three pointer at the buzzer gave North Panola a 12-9 lead after one quarter of play. The Cougars began to pull away in the second quarter by out-scoring South Panola 21-8 as the lead grew to double figures on Hunter’s floater in the lane for a 19-9 North Panola advantage.

The Cougars expanded its lead to 28-11on a Carl Robinson steal and lay up with 3:59 remaining in the half.North Panola’s tough zone defense held the Tigers to five field goals in the first half.

South Panola pulled within nine at 39-30 thanks in part to six points by Terry Bishop and a Eldridge Brooks jumper with 2:54 remaining in the third quarter, but could not get any closer as they were held to six points in the final stanza.

Hunter’s three-pointer from straight away gave North Panola its largest lead at 52-34 with 3:07 left in the game before Roydarious Jackson put an exclamation point on the win with an ally oop jam for the final two points.

Ankerion Gross chipped in with five points for North Panola while Jackson and Robinson garnered four each. Javon Edwards finished with three points.

For South Panola, it was Stanwon Porter with five points and five rebounds. Keith Cole and Issac Sturdivant adding four each. JaMichael Ford chipped in with three points while Brooks and Winston Winfield contributing with two points. Thad Kirkwood had one point for South Panola.

(Varsity Girls) SP 81, NP 36

Led by a season high 21 points from Chrystal Mayes, the Lady Tigers improved to 4-3 by coasting to the victory. Bailey Ware also registered a career high 16 points on three three-pointer as South Panola shot a hot 54 percent from the floor.

Marshala Doyle contributed 13 points as South Panola led 37-8 at intermission. KeAmber Jackson followed with eight points while Aziya McGhee, Nahriah Connor ,Takyra Webster and Ladayshia Robinson all added four points.

Jasmine Mayes and Shan Clark led North Panola with six points while Ania Taylor and Shanique Burnette followed with five each. Amani Howard contributed with four with Sherry Connor and Erriunna Goings adding three and two points each.

North Panola followed the South Panola trip up by taking two games from Coldwater Friday night. Hunter’s 36 points led the boys  to a 67-59 victory while the Lady Cougars rebounded with a 50-19 romp to improve its record to 2-4 on the season.

Fenner followed Hunter with 15 points while Robinson added nine.

North Panola opens district play Friday at Independence beginning at 6 p.m while South Panola hosts Lafayette Co. Monday in a game that was scheduled for tonight but was moved due to the Batesville Christmas parade.