DECATUR — The Co-Lin basketball teams went on the road Thursdaynight to open south division play with a pair of games versus EastCentral. The Lady Wolves would get 22 points apiece from sophomoresRachel Vigers and Latoria Holder to defeat the Lady Warriors86-66.

In men’s action the Wolves got 32 points from freshman MarcusHooten but it would not be enough as East Central claimed a 80-77victory.

The Wolves and Lady Wolves return home and continue southdivision play Monday night when they host the Southwest Bears. Thewomen’s game tips off at 6 p.m.

Co-Lin 88, East Central 66

The Lady Wolves (9-0) held a slim 40-36 lead at halftime.Sophomore Shareka Hunt tossed in 13 points and pulled down 11rebounds. Vigers dished out 8 assists. East Central was led by 21points from Hannah Lee.

“Coach really challenged the team at halftime to step up theirdefensive effort,” said Co-Lin assistant coach Cliff Furr. “Theteam responded and we used our pressure to go on a run at the startof the second half. After halftime we got really good leadershipfrom Vigers, Hunt, Holder, and Rokeiya Adams. Those are oursophomore starters and they all turned it up when the game gottight.”

East Central 80, Co-Lin 77

The Wolves (2-7) would see disaster strike at the games outsetas they fell behind twenty points within the first ten minutes ofthe contest. The halftime score would see the Warriors leading byfifteen, 50-35.

Things did not get better after the half and the Warriors wouldpush their lead back out to twenty within the first five minutes ofthe second half. At that point the Wolves began to mount acomeback. With seven minutes left in the contest the EC lead hadbeen cut to seven points. The wolves would take a late three-pointlead with two minutes remaining but EC would quickly answer and tiethe game. Sophomore guard DeMorris Summers was at the free-throwline with 8 seconds left and his team trailing 78-76.

Summers would connect on the first attempt but miss his secondchance and allow the Warriors to escape any chance of overtime.Summers finished with 14 points. Steve Edwards paced EC with 32points including going 8-12 from behind the arc.

“We put ourselves into a massive hole in the first 25 minutes ofthe ball game,” said Furr. “We had opportunities to win it but wedidn’t make the most of them.”