Like most area basketball coaches, John Knight of Enterprise islooking forward to Loyd Star’s starting quintet graduating in May.The Hornets have dominated the Lincoln County scene and made lifemiserable for opponents with a group of talented seniors.

Senior guard Julious Whittaker set the pace Tuesday night inLoyd Star’s gymnasium, sacking 23 points, including 16 in the firstquarter, as the Hornets blitzed Enterprise’s Yellow Jackets 79-63.He was joined in double digits by goateed forward Glenn Thomas with18 points and forward McKinley Hamilton with 10.

Loyd Star (16-2, 5-1) visits Division 6-2A leader Hinds AHS atUtica Friday night, hoping to avenge an earlier loss to theBulldogs who are the defending state champions.

“We had teamwork and we played pretty well the first half,” saidLoyd Star veteran coach Gene (Moochie) Britt. “Our press made themturn it over a bunch. Julious had a good game.”

To his credit, Britt pulled his starting quintet in the secondquarter after the Hornets roared to a lopsided 42-10 margin with5:58 left in the first half.

“We were so far ahead, I wanted to give them (Enterprise) abreak,” said Britt. “Our starters kind of lost focus when I putthem back out there in the third quarter.”

Enterprise (10-12, 0-6), still seeking its first division winthis season, managed to outscore Loyd Star 38-28 the second half.The Jackets were led by Sam Furr’s 18 points and 11 rebounds.Center Austin Everett added 17 points and 11 rebounds. Thomas Allennetted 14 points.

“Loyd Star is quick and strong,” said Coach Knight. “We playedwell the second half. We just weren’t focused the first half.”

Knight’s team committed 24 turnovers.

On the backboards, Loyd Star got 4 rebounds and 4 assists fromDeAndre Butler. Whittaker scored his team’s first six points of thegame.

Junior Varsity Results

In the preliminary JV game, Loyd Star posted a 45-14 victory asHunter Hooge scored 15 points and Zach Smith 13.

Enterprise got 7 points from Glynn Thornhill and 4 from TannerHemby.