By Myra Bean

Going by the first quarter, the North Delta Green Wave varsity boys thought they were going to issue the DeSoto Thunderbirds a blow out. The Thunderbirds rallied to slow the Green Wave storm, but North Delta got the 53-41 district win anyway.

North Delta led 16-3 at the end of the first quarter. The Green Wave scored eight unanswered points to start the game before DeSoto scored on a free throw with 4:15 left. In fact, all DeSoto scored in the first quarter were three free throws.

Scoring for the Green Wave to start the game were Geri Lamm, Taylor Herron and Corbin Baker. Bateman Greenlee and Jim Tom Copeland contributed to scoring in the bottom part of the first quarter while Bryan Nickle was in on an assist.

Copeland started the second quarter on an interception and field goal with 7:32 on the clock. DeSoto scored its first field goal of the game on an offensive rebound and put back with 7:09 left.

The teams started trading field goals the remainder of the quarter and the Green Wave lead was cut to eight at the half, 26-18.

In the third quarter, the Green Wave led by as many as 14 on a Herron field goal from the low post 37-23 with 3:49 left. DeSoto made a run to pull back within seven going into the fourth quarter on an 8-1 scoring spree, 38-31.

The Green Wave had to keep up its fast paced run game in the fourth quarter to hold off the Thunderbirds who were looking to take a win away from the Green Wave gym.

North Delta missed a field goal to start the quarter and DeSoto got the rebound and scored at 7:41 to pull within five 38-33.

Nickle answered with a three-pointer with 7:15 to go in the game for a 41-33 lead. On a steal and field goal, Nickle took the Green Wave to a nine-point lead with 5:19 left in the game, 43-34. Copeland padded the lead with a field goal with 4:54 left, 45-34.

Tres Brasell had a chance to put a big hurt on them by completing a three-point play but missed the free throw with 3:52 left in the game. The Green Wave led 47-36.

The last two minutes were intense as the Green Waves had their hands full holding off a determined Thunderbird crew who scored five points in the last two minutes and held the Green Wave to four.

Scoring for the Green Wave were Herron, 15 points; Nickle, 13 points; Copeland, 11 points; Lamm, 6 points; Baker, Greenlee and Brasell, two points each.

The Green Wave will be on the road tonight to take on Marvell, Ark. at 3:30 p.m. in district action. Tomorrow afternoon at 2 p.m. the Green Wave will host Lake Cormorant in non-district action. Monday, the Green Wave will host Tunica Institute in a district rematch from December 12 beginning at 4 p.m.