Loyd Star’s Brad Britt seems to save his best for North Pike.The senior guard’s last-second jumper on Dec. 15, gave the Hornetsa 44-42 win over the Jaguars at Summit. Tuesday night he hit a freethrow with 6.4 seconds remaining to give Loyd Star a 47-46 homevictory over those very same Jaguars.

The win improved the Hornets’ record to 10-13. North Pike fellto 13-13.

The Lady Hornets outscored North Pike 14-5 in the final quarteren route to a 54-47 win over the Lady Jaguars, directed by DanaCoke’s 14 points.

“We hit the free throws when it counted,” said Loyd Star boyscoach Gene “Moochie” Britt. “We just decided to get down to thenitty-gritty at the end and we took it to them.”

North Pike broke open a close game by outscoring the Hornets16-5 in the second quarter to take a 27-16 halftime lead.

“We could’ve folded, but we didn’t,” said Britt, who recordedhis 100th win in five years as head coach of the Hornets. “This wasan entire team effort. We played tonight like we’re capable ofplaying. Everybody who played for me tonight responded.”

Loyd Star battled back in the third quarter to cut the lead to37-32, then outscored the Jaguars 15-9 in the decisive finalperiod.

“We made some crucial turnovers down the stretch and it hurtus,” said North Pike head coach Cassels Wilson.”

The Jaguars led 39-36 with 5:12 remaining, but Loyd Star went onan 8-0 run to take the lead.

North Pike tied the game at 46-46 on a 12-footer by Nic Wilsonwith 10 seconds left. That set the stage for Britt’s free throw. Adesperation shot by Josh Matthews at the buzzer fell short.

“This gives us a little momentum going into the playoffs nextweek,” said coach Britt. The Division 6-2A Tournament starts Mondayat Hinds AHS in Utica.

DeMarcus Barnes scored 19 points, pulled down 10 rebounds andhad six steals to lead Loyd Star. Brad Britt finished with 15points, including 7-of-8 from the free throw line. Jermaine Hunterhad eight rebounds and Seth Britt had seven rebounds and six stealsfor the Hornets.

Josh Matthews led North Pike with 19 points.

The Lady Hornets hit the backboards and pulled out a win overNorth Pike.

“I thought this was a good team effort,” said Loyd Star headcoach Lori Britt, whose charges improved to 19-5 overall. “We havetrouble matching up size-wise with them (North Pike) and we have togo with the press a little bit more than usual.

“We’re a senior- laden team and I think their experience andleadership played a big part in the victory. North Pike played wellfor a young squad.”

The Lady Jaguars fell to 21-5.

“I thought we did just what we wanted to do,” said North Pikehead girls coach John Stephens. “There was that one period where wegot off track and started rambling; a three or four minute spanwhere we just couldn’t do it. You don’t want to fall behind LoydStar because it’s hard to play catch up.”

Christie May and Beck Smith each added 11 points for Loyd Star.Monica Townsend pulled down nine rebounds and had eight steals.

Sabrina Ard led North Pike with 15 points and six rebounds.Monecka Lewis pumped in 13 points and had six steals.

Loyd Star closes out the regular season Friday night at ChoctawCentral while North Pike hosts Port Gibson in a 6-3A matchup.