MONTICELLO – The Lawrence County Cougars moved within a singlegame of clinching the Division 6-4A title Tuesday night. Before anestimated 1000 fans on Senior Night, the Cougars authored a 66-53victory over the McComb Tigers at the Lawrence County gym in abattle of Top 10 teams. The Cougars are ranked No. 9 in theAssociated Press Prep Poll, while the Tigers came in at No. 6.

The Lawrence County Lady Cougars played their best game of theyear, but suffered a 62-57 loss to the McComb Lady Tigers.

Both teams conclude their regular season Friday with divisionmatchups. Lawrence County travels to Jackson to meet Jim Hill,while McComb hosts Brookhaven. The McComb/Jim Hill boys game winnerwill claim the 6-4A regular-season crown.

McComb 62, Lawrence Co. 57

“This is the best game that we have played this year,” saidfirst-year LCHS head coach Jennie Vance. “The only bad thing wasthat it came in a losing effort. I am proud of the girls for theway that they played tonight.”

Vance presented gifts to her seniors players: Ronesha Garner,Cortoya Barnes and Brittany Sherman prior to the game.

These Lady Cougars showed their last regular season home gamewould be one for the ages. Behind the combined 14-point effort ofGarner (6) and Kenyactha Meyers (8), LCHS entered the second stanzawith a 20-13 advantage.

The Lady Tigers, coached by Carolyn Whitehead, came back to takea 30-27 lead at halftime. Senior point guard Samantha Felder ledthe quarter charge with 10 points, including a perfect 4-of-4 fromthe charity stripe. Laantria Martin added 6 points in the period,as McComb came out of the 2-3 first-quarter zone; and went to aman-to-man defense.

McComb got a 9-point third quarter from Ryan Tobias, asWhitehead’s ballclub led 49-37 entering the final frame.

LCHS began their rally by holding the Lady Tigers to a pair offield goals in the period. The Lady Cougars had an opportunity tocut their deficit to a single point, with less than 17 seconds leftin the game.

Martin was called for a foul on Jasmine Courtney, as Courtneywas driving for a layup. Martin vigorously protested the call andimmediately received a technical foul. Courtney missed both foulshots, and Cortoya Barnes hit 1-of-2 technical fouls shots; leavingthe score at 61-57.

“We missed too many free throws down the stretch,” added Vance.”We never quit in the comeback.”

Felder led all scorers with 20 points, followed by Stacey Morriswith 16 and Martin added 14.

Ronesha Garner paced LCHS with 18 points, 2 steals and 2assists. Meyers had 14 points, 2 steals and 2 assists. Barnes had 8rebounds and blocked 4 McComb shots.

Lawrence Co. 66, McComb 53

Lawrence Co. and McComb are ranked 1-2 in the latest ESPN RADIO1270/South Central MS Super 7 poll.

Each team has held the top spot during the season.

The Cougars came out on a mission, and accomplished it; avenginga pair of losses to the Tigers. McComb had defeated Lawrence Co.54-49 in a non-division contest during the Brookhaven InvitationalNov. 18. The Tigers edged the Cougars 64-53 in a division gala atMcComb on Jan. 11, as LCHS was without senior David Clark; who hadsuffered an ankle injury.

Clark torched the green-clad visitors for the first 11 points ofthe game, as McComb could not stop the 6-foot-6 feathery, smoothcenter’s inside/outside repertoire. LCHS end the first quarter witha 16-7.

The Tigers got into an offensive rhythm in the second. ReserveJoseph Hill pumped in 10 points in the period, bringing McComb towithin 3 points; 33-30 at the intermission. Hill led head coachHilton Harrell’s ballclub with 14 points.

Turnovers plagued the Cougars in the second and third frames, asMcComb kept plugging away at LCHS.

Cougar head coach Bobby Lee got a boost from senior forwardJustin “JP” Lewis, who pumped in 6 of his 21 points in the third.LCHS entered the final quarter with 48-35 lead.

Lewis garnered a 7-point fourth stanza, and Clark added 6 of hisgame-high 29 as the Cougars held off the Tigers. Lewis also had 12rebounds, while Clark had 5 rebounds and 3 assists. Dominique Westdished out 5 assists and Ray Collins had 4 assists.

“Our kids played hard tonight,” said Lee. “Our guards need tocut down on the turnovers and be more consistent.”

Chris Daniels and Demarion Addison added 13 and 11 points,respectively for McComb.

Prior the boys game, Cougar assistant coach Eddie Rialspresented T-shirts to the following seniors: Clark, Lewis, VictorLongino, Ray Collins, Greg Weary and manager LaPatrick Bayliss.