SUMMIT – Brad Britt’s 12-footer with no time remaining liftedthe Loyd Star Hornets to an exciting 44-42 win over North Pike inFriday night basketball action. The win completed a sweep as theLady Hornets defeated North Pike 74-53 .

“This was a cat-and-mouse type of game,” said Loyd Star headcoach Gene “Moochie” Britt following the game. “Coach (Cassells)Wilson and his team were ready to play and it was just a case ofwho wanted it more at the end.”

North Pike (7-6) jumped out to a 12-7 first quarter lead, butthe Hornets (5-5) battled back to take the lead 26-24 athalftime.

“We’ve been short-handed the last couple of games and we neededsome of our younger players to step up,” said Wilson. “They didtheir best but give Loyd Star credit. They did what they needed todo to win it.

“It hurts because this was the second game in a row that we’velost in the final seconds.” Wilson was referring to the Jaguars’60-58 OT loss to Pine, La. earlier in the week.

North Pike eventually regained the lead 36-34 at the end of thethird quarter on Glover Quin’s layup. That set the stage for thefinal quarter.

“We played well in the second half,” said Britt. “Our guys weredetermined that they weren’t gonna lose this one. But it wasn’teasy.”

Loyd Star’s Demarcus Barnes hit a layup with 16 secondsremaining and tied the game at 42-42. North Pike called a timeoutto set up for the final shot. But Josh Matthews was whistled fortraveling with 2.3 seconds remaining to open the door for theHornets.

“We set the play up for Brad (Britt),” said Coach Britt.”Luckily he got a lane to drive through and put up the shot thatwon it. This is probably the biggest win of the year for us.Hopefully it will give us some momentum going into the Christmasbreak.”

Brad Britt led Loyd Star with 16 points, includingtwo-3-pointers. Barnes added 11 points, six assists and sixrebounds.

Matthew Lofton paced North Pike with 15 points and 10 reboundswhile Matthews contributed 14 points and nine rebounds.

The Lady Hornets (7-3), who led 48-40 afterthree quarters, went on an 11-1 tear in the final frame for thewin.

“We hustled more tonight than in the last few games,” said LoydStar head coach Lori Britt. “Monica (Townsend) had her best gameever.”

Townsend, working at guard, had 19 points, 11 rebounds anddished out eight assists. Christie May scored 18 points and grabbed13 rebounds. Dana Coke hit for 14 points.

“We attacked the basket tonight,” added Britt. “We blocked outon defense and took it to the basket. It was definitely one of ourbest performances of the season.”

North Pike head coach John Stevens, whose squad fell to 12-2,said that his Lady Jaguars were outplayed.

“Loyd Star was better than we were,” he said. “We haven’t hadmuch of a problem handling the press, but tonight we did. We justcouldn’t seem to break it and it cost us.”

Sabrina Ard was the leading scorer for North Pike with 19points.

In the girls JV game, North Pike downed Loyd Star 39-19.Trista Cook led the Lady Jaguars with eight points. Sarah Loftonand Nikki Hunsucker each scored four points for LoydStar.

Both teams return to action on Thursday with Loyd Starat West Lincoln and North Pike at Enterprise.

GIRLS

Loyd Star 74, North Pike 53

Loyd Star (74) Monica Townsend 19, Christie May 18, Coke14, Beck Smith 8, Leah Smith 7, Henderson 5, Scroggs3.

North Pike (53) Sabrina Ard 19, Quita Ard 6, Coleman 6,Stevens 5, Lewis 5, Carr 4, Johnson 4, Robinson 2, Rawls2.

Total Fouls : Loyd Star 11. North Pike 17. Fouled Out:None. Technicals: None.

Free Throws M-A: Loyd Star 12-20. North Pike5-9.

3-point goals: Coke 2, Henderson, Scroggs, S. Ard,Stevens.

Loyd Star 10 20 18 26 – 74

North Pike 13 12 15 13 – 53

BOYS

Loyd Star 44, North Pike 42

Loyd Star (44) Brad Britt 16, Barnes 11, Calcote 8,Jared Britt 5, Seth Britt 2, Hunter 2.

North Pike (42) Matthew Lofton 15, Matthews 14, Thornton9, Quin 4.

Total Fouls : Loyd Star 12. North Pike 11. Fouled Out:None Technicals: None.

Free Throws M-A: Loyd Star 4-5. North Pike9-12.

3-point goals: Brad Britt 2, Barnes 2, Jared Britt,Calcote, Lofton.

Loyd Star 7 19 8 10 – 44

North Pike 12 12 12 6 – 42