By Myra Bean

The South Panola Tiger basketball teams entertained Grenada in non-district action Tuesday night. The Tigers and Lady Tigers won their games, but not before meeting some determined Chargers.

The South Panola Lady Tigers moved to No. 3 in the state rankings by the Clarion-Ledger behind No. 1 Murrah and No. 2 H.W. Byers.

The Lady Tigers moved to 13-0 on the season after a 63-61 overtime win over the Lady Charger. Chasity Kearney led the Lady Tiger charge with 27 points, followed by Vetorra Cole with 18.

South Panola had Grenada on the ropes after the first quarter with a 16-6 lead. At the half, the Lady Tigers were still sitting pretty with a 30-17 lead.

The Lady Charger team which came out second half looked like a totally different scoring machine as they outscored the Lady Tigers 36-23 to tie the score at 53 and force an overtime. Grenada shot a basket at the buzzer, but the player’s foot was on the line and it was determined to be a two-pointer instead of a three-pointer for the win.

The Lady Tigers were able to outscore Grenada 10-8 in overtime for the win.

“We didn’t play real well in the second half,” Lady Tiger head coach Ralph Stallings said. “In theory, we probably should have lost, but a foot on the line was a two instead of a one-point win. They (Grenada) fought back. It was a good learning experience for us.”

Stallings said the Lady Tigers stopped doing some things defensively they had done in the second half and allowed Grenada to get back in the game. They also missed 11 free throws in the second half.

“We have to develop that killer instinct to put the game away when we have the chance,” Stallings said.

Also some bad news came the way of the Lady Tigers concerning senior point guard Raquel Burdette. Burdette went out in the third quarter due to a knee injury which was later confirmed as a torn ACL (anterior cruciate ligament) and a possible torn MCL (Medial Collateral Ligament).

“The doctor said she is finished for the season,” Stallings said. “She was learning on the job and brought a lot of energy and spirit to the floor.”

Stallings said the point guard position for tonight’s district game against Starkville will be filled “by committee.”

This is a big adjustment the team has had to make the last couple of days as the district season starts back up hard and heavy.

“Starkville is a good team,” Stallings said. “We were lucky to come away with a win from there last year.”

Other scorers for the Lady Tigers include Skylar Barnes, 8 points; Essie Thomas, 6 points; Burdette, 2 points; and Jasmon Houston, 1 point.

Tigers

The Tigers had a relatively easily run as they defeated the Chargers 56-35.

The had a 15-9 lead after the first quarter, but Grenada closed the score in the second quarter, limiting the Tigers to only five points. At the half, the Tigers led 20-17.

The third quarter belonged to the Tigers as they outscored Grenada 21-3 and coasted the rest of the game.

Quendarius Robinson was the game’s leading scorer with 22 points, followed by Rico Keys with 18. Also scoring in double figures for the Tigers was Kerrion Moore with 12. Antonio Jones finished the scoring with four points.

Robert Willis led Grenada with 18 points.

The Tiger teams will be in Starkville tonight for district games starting at 6 p.m. with the varsity girls game.