Lady Hornets romp; Hornets edge Wesson in OT

Published 6:00 am Wednesday, December 5, 2001

WESSON – The rivalry between the Wesson Cobras and the Loyd StarHornets continued from the football field to the basketball courtTuesday night.

In the boys game, Loyd Star held off Wesson for a intense 65-63Region 6-2A win in overtime, with the fans for both teams cheeringfrom the opening tipoff to the final buzzer.

Varsity girls basketball action was less intense as the LadyHornets crushed the Lady Cobras 54-21.

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In the boys game, Wesson forward Richie Miller hit athree-pointer to tie the game at 58-all with 30.5 seconds left inregulation. Loyd Star called back-to-back timeouts. The Hornetspassed the ball around until calling another timeout with 7.9seconds showing on the clock. Loyd Star held for the final shot butmissed and the game went into a three-minute overtime.

With 40 seconds remaining in OT, Hornet guard JaredBritt made a big steal for a layup that put Loyd Star up 62-60.Senior guard Demarcus Barnes went 3-for 4 from the free throw linedown the stretch while Cobra Wesley Page hit a three pointer thatclosed the gap to 65-63 but remained short of the tie.

The Cobras had the ball with seven seconds left butthrew it out of bounds. The Hornets got it back and controlled thefinals seconds of the game.

“We did well,” said Loyd Star boys coach Gene “Moochie”Britt following the win. “We made the shots when we had to. We’llget better.” Britt said it was the first game he has had all of theplayers together following the football playoffs.

Wesson trailed Loyd Star for the first half but got backinto the game in second-half play.

Barnes powered the Hornets with 28 points. Jamie Johnsonfollowed with 19 points. Jared Britt led with foursteals.

“Loyd Star has a very good ball club,” said Wesson headcoach Billy O. Britt after the game. “The turnovers was one of thekey factors. We played man-to-man and some press. That got us backinto the game at the end. We had good post play.”

The Cobras had all five starters in double figures.Miller paved the way with 16 points. Firing in 13 points was MarcusCorley. David Smith and Wesley Page scored 12 points apiece.Following with 10 points was Roderick Clay.

In the girls game, Beth Smith and Jamakia Hendersonnetted 10 points apiece to lead the 2-2 Lady Hornets. Tops off thebackboards with 13 rebounds was Henderson followed by Shara Johnsonwith 10 rebounds. Sarah Lofton made five steals.

“We are struggling to score this year,” said Loyd Stargirls coach Lori Britt. She lost seven seniors to graduation lastyear. “We are starting completely from scratch.”

Wesson (0-4) led Loyd Star 5-4 at the end of the firstquarter but the Lady Hornets got hot. Loyd Star came back with a20-6 run in the second quarter to go ahead 24-11 at the half. Goinginto the final frame, the Lady Hornets were up 34-19.

“We are going from game to game,” stated Wesson girlscoach Scott Johnson. “We’re getting better. We have to work on ourshooting. We need to shoot more.”

Senior forward Maggie Johnson sparked Wesson with ninepoints. Kail Baldwin finished with six points.

Junior High Action

Tyler Williford netted 10 points to lead the Loyd Starboys to a 32-23 win over Wesson. Brent Fells added eight points forthe Hornets.

For Wesson, Mason Warren and John Michael Cliburn ledwith 10 points.

Junior high girls

Christy Wilson’s 11 points paced the Wesson girls to a33-9 victory over Loyd Star.

Mandy Morris scored five points for LoydStar.

Wesson visits Bogue Chitto and Loyd Star entertainsEnterprise Thursday night.

@Bbstandings:BOYS

Loyd Star 65, Wesson 63 (OT)

Loyd Star (65) Demarcus Barnes 28, Jamie Johnson 19,Seth Britt 5, J. Britt 7, Hunter 4 Sones 2.

Wesson (63) Richie Miller 16, Corley 13, D. Smith 12,Page 12, Clay 10.

Total fouls: Total fouls Wesson 14. Loyd Star 12. Fouledout-None. Technicals-D. Smith.

Free throws M-A: Loyd Star 8-15. Wesson4-8.

3-point goals: Corley 3, Clay 2, Page 2, Miller, Barnes,S. Britt.

Loyd Star

15

9

15

19

7 – 65

Wesson

17

11

15

21

5 – 63

GIRLS

Loyd Star 54, Wesson 21

Loyd Star (54) Beth Smith 10, Jamakia Henderson 10, F.Henderson 5, Brown 2, Lofton 6, Williams 7, Sellers 2, Johnson 8,Britt 2, Golden 2.

Wesson (21) Maggie Johnson 9, Baldwin 6, Curtis 1, Carr2, King 1, A. Johnson 2.

Total fouls: Wesson 22. Loyd Star 22. Fouled out-M.Johnson, Mindy Hedgepeth of Loyd Star.Technicals-None.

Free throws M-A: Loyd Star 15-22. Wesson2-7.

3-point goals: B. Smith 3.

Loyd Star

4

20

10

20 – 54

Wesson

5

6

8

2 – 21