MAGNOLIA – Desmond Cook nailed a 28-foot three-pointer at the buzzer to give the South Pike Eagles a thrilling 48-47 win over Lawrence County in Division 7-4A high school basketball action Friday night. Coupled with the Lady Eagles’ 60-43 trouncing of the LCHS Lady Cougars, Cook’s heroics gave South Pike a sweep of the important division double-header.

In the boys’ game, Lawrence County led 21-19 at halftime, and the game remained close until the final buzzer. South Pike tied the game three times in the third quarter, but LCHS consistently responded, though the Cougar lead never got any bigger than four points.

The Eagles finally took a brief lead midway through the fourth quarter, when JaRod Green hit the first of two free throws, then got his own rebound and basket off the missed second free throw.

Lawrence County regained the lead when Gabriel Lewis scored and got fouled on a breakaway steal, converting the free throw to give the Cougars a 45-43 lead.

Moments later, the Cougars’ Phillip Moore stretched the LCHS lead to 47-43 by hitting both ends of a one-and-one opportunity.

Green’s put-back basket got South Pike to within 47-45, and the Eagles quickly fouled Lawrence County’s Gabriel Lewis, sending him to the line for a one-and-one opportunity with seven seconds left in the game. When Lewis missed the front end, South Pike rebounded, worked the basketball into the offensive end, and Cook let fly his long three-pointer just before the buzzer ended the game. Cook’s shot touched off a wild South Pike celebration.

Cook led South Pike with 12 points. Point guard Derrick Horton hit three 3-pointers for nine points. Keyshawn Feazell led Lawrence County with 15 points, and Gaylon Pittman added 14.

With the win, Joe Taylors’ Eagles improved to 16-8 overall and 5-3 in Division 7-4A play. Pat Bridges’ LCHS Cougars, who defeated South Pike by six points in the first meeting between the two teams, fell to 9-16 overall and 5-3 in the division.

In girls’ action, Janice Felder’s South Pike Lady Eagles proved a step quicker on this night. South Pike rolled to a 27-11 halftime lead. Lawrence County cut that 16-point deficit down to eight points by the end of the third quarter, then outscored South Pike 6-2 in the first minute of the fourth quarter, getting to within four points, at 40-36.

After that, however, the Lady Eagles outscored Lawrence County 20-7 to put the game away.

Amber Harper led a balanced Lady Eagle attack with 14 points. Nakaylis Washington added 11, MyNekia Frazier had 10, and Moriah Hurst scored nine. Freshman Haven Johnson led Lawrence County with 14 points, and sophomore Deneisha Dickson added 13.

With the win, South Pike improved to 20-6 overall, and 7-1 in Division 7-4A action. Vicki Rutland’s LCHS Lady Cougars fell to 8-19 overall and 5-3 in the division.

Lawrence County will play a division game at Purvis on Monday and will travel to 6A Natchez for non-division action on Tuesday. South Pike will face North Pike in a set of critical division games on Tuesday.