MADISON – Cat-quick guard Julius Whittaker pumped in 21 pointsto lead four players in double figures as the Loyd Star Hornetswhipped St. Joseph’s Bruins 62-48 Friday night in Division 6-2Abasketball action. Joseph Shelby added 15 points to the victory,followed by McKinley Hamilton with 14 and DeAndre Butler with12.

The Loyd Star girls beat St. Joe 48-45, led by sophomore forwardCourtney Watts who scored a game-high 18 points.

Loyd Star resumes division play Tuesday night at Puckett,starting with a JV girls game at 5 p.m.

The Lady Hornets (2-12, 1-2) got 7 rebounds apiece from Wattsand Anna Brooks. Sophomore Jordan Williams scored 10 points, made 6steals and 5 assists. Brooks had 5 steals and 4 assists.

“We made 12 out of 18 free throws in the fourth quarter,” saidLoyd Star girls coach Billy Vaughn. “All of our points came fromfree throws. That was big.”

Vaughn said he hoped to have guard Sarah Falvey back forTuesday’s game at Puckett. She missed the last two games due to anankle injury.

The Hornets (13-2, 2-1) got 12 rebounds from Shelby plus 6assists. Hamilton had 9 rebounds. Whittaker dished out 6 assists asthey forged a 31-18 halftime lead on frigid Friday night.

“I thought we played well as a team,” said Britt. “Our pressuredefense in the fourth quarter gave us a double-digit lead.”

St. Joe got 14 points from Jalen Davis. The Bruins outscoredLoyd Star 17-4 in the third quarter to gain a 35-35 deadlock.

St. Joe’s Koashia Eldridge led her team with 10 points.

JV Action

St. Joe prevailed 28-24 as Gabe Palen netted 7 points and JohnCarney 6.

Loyd Star got 10 points from Hunter Hooge. Caleb Smith had 9points and Jarred Bullock netted 5.