JACKSON-Forest Hill swept a Division 6-4A basketballdoubleheader from Lawrence County Friday night at the Forest Hillgymnasium. In varsity girls’ play, the Lady Patriots trounced theLady Cougars by a decisive 72-39 margin. The varsity boys game wasa bit closer, but Forest Hill won again, 76-64.

Forest Hill is the alma mater of Lady Cougars’ coach VickiRutland, and Lady Patriot coach Tommy Groves was Rutland’s highschool coach. Back in December, at LCHS, Rutland’s girls played herold team surprisingly close. On Friday, the game was competitive,but for only one half.

Forest Hill led by 10 points, 32-22, at the half, then blewthings open in the third quarter, overwhelming Lawrence County by a23-4 margin. Bianca Powell (14), Courtney Marbra (13), and KristinNewsome (13) led a balanced Lady Patriot attack.

Freshman Tiaria Griffin led Lawrence County with 13 points,while Candice Little added 10.

With the loss, the Lady Cougars fell to 12-8 on the season. Thepowerful Lady Patriots improved to 20-3.

Last season, Preston Wilson’s Cougars made their first trip toForest Hill for a division game, and the result wasn’t pretty. ThePatriots trounced LCHS by almost 70 points. Friday’s result, whileit was still a loss, was a great improvement for the LawrenceCounty boys. Forest Hill jumped to a 13-point, 30-17, first quarterlead, then held roughly that same margin throughout, in improvingto an impressive 17-5 on the season.

Andre Stringer exploded for 32 points to lead the Patriots. Hescored 13 of his team’s 18 fourth-quarter points, personallythwarting any hopes for a late Lawrence County comeback. DeontaeDean had 16, and Emmanuel Jeffries 15, to buoy the Patriotattack.

Leroy Fifer led the Cougars with 16 points, and Matthew Wellsfollowed with 15. Khalid Baylis added 9, and David Haynes had 8.The loss dropped the Cougars to 9-13 on the season.

Girls

FOREST HILL 72, LAWRENCE COUNTY 39

Lawrence Co. (39) Tiaria Griffin 13, Brister 4, Harris 2, TyraGriffin 3, Candice Little 10, Showers 1, Taylor 2, Hill 2, Showers2.

Forest Hill (72) Byrd 2, Trotter 4, Williams 2, Kristin Newsome13, Bianca Powell 14, Wiley 7, Courtney Marbra 13, Wilson 8, Hobson9.

Total Fouls: Lawrence Co. 23; Forest Hill 15.

Free Throws M-A: Lawrence Co. 13-20; Forest Hill 18-24.

3-Point Goals: Forest Hill (4) Powell 3, Newsome.

Boys

FOREST HILL 76, LAWRENCE COUNTY 64

Lawrence Co. (39) Baylis 9, Leroy Fifer 16, Thomas 3, Martin 3,Clark 2, Haynes 8, Matthew Wells 15, Jenkins 4.

Forest Hill (72) Andre Stringer 32, Deontae Dean 16, EmmanuelJeffries 15, Dean 5, Pendleton 2, Cowart 2, Charleston 2, Moore2.

Total Fouls: Lawrence Co. 16; Forest Hill 9.

Free Throws M-A: Lawrence Co. 7-11; Forest Hill 6-13.

3-Point Goals: Forest Hill (6) Stringer 3, Jeffries 2, R. Dean;Lawrence Co. (4) Toney, Martin, Thomas, Baylis.