PURVIS-Lawrence County swept a Division 7-4A basketball double-header from Purvis in Monday night high school hoops action. With Purvis at or near the bottom of the division standings in both boys’ and girls’ play, some might have expected an easy night for Lawrence County. But Purvis tends to compete well in its small, antiquated gymnasium, and that was the case on Monday.

Vicki Rutland’s girls won, 51-33, but it wasn’t easy, as the Lady Cougars didn’t pull away until the second half. The boys’ game was even tougher, going into overtime before the Cougars pulled out a 60-52 win.

With their win, the Lady Cougars improved to 9-19 overall, and 6-3 in Division 7-4A play. LCHS has clinched third place, out of six teams, in the division standings, and will likely face Purvis again in the opening round of next week’s division tournament.

On Monday, Lawrence County, which blitzed Purvis by a 72-34 score back on the tenth of January, led just 20-18 at halftime. The Lady Cougars outscored Purvis 31-15 in the second half, however, to pull away.

Sophomore Deneisha Dickson led LCHS with 15 points and 8 rebounds. Latasha Rhodes added 9 points, and Haven Johnson had 8. Nikedra Brown nabbed 4 steals to go along with her 7 points. Samantha Sattler and Brandi Wyles led Purvis with 8 points each.

The first four quarters were a struggle for Pat Bridge’s LCHS boys. It was close throughout, with Purvis holding 2-point leads at halftime (21-19) and after three quarters (33-31). The Cougars tied the game at 49-49 at the end of regulation, then dominated in overtime, outscoring the Tornadoes 11-3.

The Cougars’ youth movement was in full swing on Monday. Sophomore Phillip Moore led LCHS with 18 points, 7 rebounds and 5 assists. Freshman Keyshawn Feazell added 15 points. Feazell and sophomore forward Gaylon Pittman dominated the backboards, pulling down 14 rebounds and 13 rebounds, respectively. Sophomore guard Gabriel Lewis added 9 points, and junior forward Bobby Peyton had 7 points and 8 rebounds. Peyton’s baseline-drive basket, foul, and free throw was a key play in the Cougars’ overtime glory.

Purvis junior David Davis, one of Mississippi’s leading prep scorers, led the Tornadoes with 25 points. Davis burned the Cougars for 35 points back in January.

The LCHS boys improved to 10-16 overall, and 6-3 in Division 7-4A play. With a win Friday against North Pike in their final division game, Lawrence County could claim second place in the division. That would assure the Cougars of a place in the 4A state playoffs.