MONTICELLO – Lawrence County and South Pikesplit a Division 7-4A basketball double-header Tuesday night atLCHS.  In girls’ action,Vicki Rutland’s Lady Cougars edged the Lady Eagles,51-47.  In boys’ play,South Pike broke open a tight game in the final 10 minutes, winning72-58. 

    The girls’ game pitted two teams that entered the night with 2-0records in division play. It was a hard-fought affair throughout, with the two teamsexchanging the lead many times, but neither team able to pull awayfrom the other.  South Pikeled by 1 after one quarter.  It was tied at halftime, and the LadyEagles held another 1-point lead at the end of threequarters.  LCHS won it witha big fourth quarter, outscoring South Pike 20-15 in theperiod.

    Taylor Brister led the Lady Cougars with 16 points, 5 assists, and7 steals. Fourteen of her 16 points came in the secondhalf.  Brittany McDuffeyhad a double-double, with 14 points and 10 rebounds.  Mary Margaret McLaurin added 13points, and Tiana Dampeer carved out an 8-point, 10-reboundnight.

    Akayla Powell led South Pike with 13 points, and Jamaya Carter had10.  The Lady Eagles,coached by former South Pike and USM star Janice Felder, fell to14-4 with the loss.

    “This was a great win,” said Rutland, whose Lady Cougars improvedto 12-6 overall.  “SouthPike has a really good team, and they have beaten several of theteams that have beaten us. Coach (Janice) Felder and her girls do a great job, and they willbe a big factor in our division race.”

South Pike 72, LCHS 58

    For three quarters, the boys’ game closely resembled the girls’contest.  Lawrence Countyand South Pike tied up in a hotly-contested affair that looked likeit would go down to the wire.  In the fourth quarter, however, SouthPike dominated, and the Cougars went ice cold. 

    The dynamic guard combination of DeAngelo Coleman (25 points) andDquerias Bullock (23 points) combined for 48 of the Eagles’points.  That duo combinedto sink 17 of 19 free throws.

    David Haynes led Lawrence County with 21 points, and BrandonDaniels added 10.  Freethrow shooting was a big concern for the Cougars, who converted onjust 8 of 23 free throw attempts. 

    With the win, Coach Joe Taylor’s Eagles improved to 14-4 overall,and 3-0 in the division. Lawrence County, under third-year coach Pat Brides, fell to 10-8overall, and 1-2 in the division.

    Lawrence County will resume division play at North Pike onFriday.  South Pike willtravel to Tylertown.