WESSON — Despite going 17 of 34 from the free throw line, theLoyd Star Hornets made the shots at the end when it counted Tuesdaynight. McKinley Hamilton went 1-for-2 to cut the Wesson Cobras’lead to 61-59 with 30 seconds left to play.

Loyd Star’s Ashton Fox hit his third 3-pointer of the game toput the Hornets up by 1 point, 62-61, with 18.7 seconds remainingin the game. Fox followed with a free throw to push the lead to63-61. Wesson’s Lonnie Reeves connected on his first of 2 freethrows, to cut the visitors lead to 63-62. Hornet Joseph Shelby wasfouled with 1.9 seconds on the clock. Shelby went 1-for-2 to securethe Hornets a 64-62 Division 6-2A win before a loud, capacitycrowd.

In the girls game, the Loyd Star girls held off Wesson for a52-42 victory.

Wesson hosts Central Private (La.) Friday night and Loyd Starhosts Madison St. Joseph.

Loyd Star 64, Wesson 62

Loyd Star (9-2, 1-0) led Wesson (6-3, 0-1) 14-10 in the firstquarter. The Cobras came back with a 23-13 run in the secondquarter to take a 33-27 lead over the Hornets at the half.

Wesson maintained a 7-point, 49-42, lead going in to the finalframe.

“Wesson was hot in the first half,” said Loyd Star boys coachGene (Moochie) Britt. “We got in early foul trouble. “Our hustleand press on defense got us back in the ball game.”

Foul trouble hit both teams in the fourth quarter. Britt loststarting center Rickey Barnes (4:29) and forward Glenn Thomas(3:30) within a minute of each other. Wesson boys coach Ron Kesslerlost center Josh Hart with 3:46 left. Barnes finished with 8 pointsand 10 rebounds while Thomas had 6 points and 8 rebounds.

“That hurt us,” said Kessler about losing Hart who had 13points, 17 rebounds and 3 blocks shots at the time. “But we wereout athleticized by Loyd Star. We had a good game plan. We playedhard for four quarters. A couple of breaks at home we couldn’tget.”

Cody King led Wesson with 17 points. Lonnie Reeves fired in 16points. Collecting 15 points and 7 rebounds was MatthewCliburn.

Many Wesson fans waved blue fly swatters, a.k.a. HornetSwatters, during the game.

“I was proud of the way we stayed in the game,” said Britt. “Youhave to step it up a notch.”

Hamilton powered Loyd Star with 17 points, 4 rebounds and 3steals. Fox followed with 16 points, 8 rebounds and 4 steals. RonJones finished with 14 points and 8 rebounds.

Loyd Star 52, Wesson 42

The Loyd Star girls (9-2, 1-0) fell behind Wesson (5-5, 0-1)11-8 in the first quarter. The Hornets went up by 2 points, 25-23,at the half.

In the third quarter, Loyd Star went on a 13-8 run to push thelead to 38-31 going into the fourth quarter.

“Our girls played with a lot of intensity,” said Wesson girlscoach Hugh Webb. “We got a good offensive lift from Ansley Schimmeland Kelly Westmorlan.”

Schimmel led the Cobras with 14 points and 4 steals. Ann ShelbyDavis followed with 9 points, before fouling out in the fourthquarter with 4:06 remaining. Marion Allen grabbed 7 reboundsfollowed by Leah Greer with 5.

Center Haley Sones directed Coach Billy Vaughn’s Hornets with 18points, 14 rebounds, 3 steals and 3 blocked shots. Shannon Chester,who fouled out with 3:57 left in the game, fired in 14 points,pulled down 6 rebounds and made 3 steals. Dakota Brooks collected 5rebounds, made 5 steals and had 4 assists.

Junior varsity action

The Wesson girls knocked off Loyd Star 29-14, powered by SummerRials and Schimmel with 8 points apiece.

Kierra Barnes led Loyd Star with 5 points.

In the JV boys contest, Wesson held off Loyd Star for a 35-31victory. Gib Britt and Charles Howard paced the Cobras with 6points apiece.

Netting 15 points for the Hornets was Keldric Smith.