WESSON — Heavy rains pounded the Wesson High gymnasium Fridaynight but it was nothing compared to the lightning and thunderproduced between the Wesson Cobras and the Loyd Star Hornets.

The Wesson boys placed four players in double figures as theCobras defeated the Hornets 78-58 before a vocal, capacitycrowd.

Powering the Cobras was senior guard Collin King with 19 pointsand eight rebounds. Senior guard Adrien Merchant added 16 pointsand made five steals. Senior forward Blake Pickett had 14 points,seven rebounds and four steals followed by senior guard WadeWilliams with 13 points, five rebound and four steals.

The Loyd Star boys (12-4, 0-3) reamined winless in the toughDivision 6-4A race. They led 19-18 in the first quarter and were incommand until Merchant nailed a field goal to tie the game at33-all with 45 seconds left. Starting junior guard Phil Fortenberrynailed a pair of free throws, followed with a layup and a fieldgoal, to give Wesson a six-point, 39-33, lead at the half.

“In the last minute and a half of the second quarter, we went onan 8-0 run,” said Wesson boys coach Ron Kessler after the win. “Thethird quarter was huge for us. In the second half, we were prettysound.”

In the second half, Wesson (11-6, 3-1) began to pull away fromLoyd Star with a 17-4 run to take a 56-37 lead into the finalframe.

“We played a good first half,” said Loyd Star boys coach Gene”Moochie” Britt. “We didn’t make our shots. We got in to foultrouble.”

Directing the Hornets with 17 points and two steals was juniorguard Tyler Williford. Sophomore Brent Fells and freshman Drew Casefired in 14 points apiece. Fells led off the backboards with 10rebounds and had two assists. Case finished with six rebounds and apair of steals. Ron Jones grabbed seven rebounds.

“Loyd Star is a very competitive team,” added Kessler. “Tyler isone of the best players in the district.”

Finishing with nine points for the Cobras was junior guard MasonWarren.

Junior High Action

The Loyd Star boys and girls swept Wesson in junior high action.The Hornets posted a 38-33 win over Wesson.

Powering the Loyd Star boys with 19 points was MatthewHenderson. Adam Case netted 10 points.

Wesson was led by Joe Decker with with nine points, followed byMatthew Cliburn with seven.

Wesson and Loyd Star face division opponents Tuesday. Wessontravels to St. Andrew’s and Loyd Star entertains Piney Woods.