Hinds AHS 6-foot-3 center Amber Watts fired in a game-high 36points but it wasn’t enough as the host Loyd Star Lady Hornets cameback to nail down a 71-69 Division 6-2A win over the Lady BulldogsFriday night.

In the boys game, Loyd Star led in the first half and into thethird quarter but Hinds AHS came back and took the 70-52 win.

Loyd Star 71, Hinds AHS 69

According to Loyd Star girls coach Lori Britt, JanakiaHenderson was a key factor down the stretch in fourth quarter.Henderson went 7 of 8 from the free throw line to help secure thebig win.

“We played hard,” said Coach Britt. “We made our freethrows when we had to.”

Loyd Star (5-2, 4-0) led Hinds AHS at the end of thefirst quarter 15-10. In second-quarter action, the Lady Bulldogsbattled back and took a 1-point, 26-25, lead at the half when Wattsnailed a three-point goal from three-quarters length distance downthe court.

Both teams put a lot of points on the scoreboard in thethird quarter with Hinds AHS leading 23-21 for a 49-46 edge goinginto the final frame.

Powering the Loyd Star girls with 26 points, fiveassists and five steals was senior point guard Monica Townsend.Center Christy May netted 12 points and led off the backboards with11 rebounds. Pulling down six rebounds was Dana Coke.

Hinds AHS got 13 points from HenshaHamilton.

Hinds AHS 70, Loyd Star 52

The Hornets (3-4, 2-2) commanded a 30-26 lead over theBulldogs at the half. Loyd Star played a slow-tempo game in thefirst half and into the third quarter when turnovers sparked HindsAHS. The Bulldogs picked up the tempo and went on a 27-10 scoringspree going into the final quarter and led 53-40.

“We played a really good first half,” said Loyd Starboys coach Gene Britt. “We played a slow-tempo basketball gameuntil the third quarter. We turned it over two or three times andwe had to play catchup ball. The third quarter was the differencein the game.”

Senior guard Brad Britt led the Hornets with 17 points.Demarcus Barnes collected 13 points and seven rebounds. FreddieCalcote finished with 12 points and eight rebounds. Finishing with10 rebounds was Jeremaine Hunter.

Hinds AHS had Gabriel Walton with 20 points. Mario Tylerfired in 18 points. Netting 12 points was Horace Noel.

In the junior varsity boys game, Loyd Star (2-0) clippedHinds AHS in double overtime on a three-point shot by Jody Britt.Brandon Lackland led with 10 points. Jessie Sones scored sevenpoints followed by Sidney Chester with six points and Britt withfive points.

Hinds AHS got nine points from Bernard Taylor and eightpoints from Chris Bailey.

Loyd Star entertains division foe Richland Monday nightfor three games. The junior high boys begin play at 5p.m.

GIRLS

Loyd Star 71, Hinds AHS 69

Hinds AHS (69) Amber Watts 36, H Hamilton 13, Bradley 7,Hillard 7, Shoto 4, Johnson 2.

Loyd Star (71) Monica Townsend 26, J. Henderson 8, May12, Coke 7, Scroggs 3, L. Smith 7, Beck Smith 8.

Total fouls: Hinds AHS 25. Loyd Star 16. Fouledout-Watts, Johnson, Townsend. Technicals-None.

Free throws M-A; Loyd Star 25-34. Hinds AHS7-14.

3-point goals: L. Smith, Shoto, Watts.

Hinds AHS 10 16 23 19- 69

Loyd Star 15 10 21 25 – 71

BOYS

Hinds AHS 70, Loyd Star 52

Hinds AHS (70) Gabriel Walton 20, Tyler 18, Noel 12,Hodge 9, Richardson 4, Braxton 5, Stewart 2.

Loyd Star (52) Brad Britt 17, Barnes 13, Calcote 12,Hunter 6, S. Britt 2, J. Britt 2.

Total fouls: Hinds AHS 17. Loyd Star 13. Fouledout-Richardson. Technicals-Richardson.

Free throws M-A: Loyd Star 15-19. Hinds AHS5-8.

3-point goals: Calcote 2, Barnes, Hodge.

Hinds AHS 16 10 27 17 – 70

Loyd Star 18 12 10 12 – 52