Loyd Star’s Hornets won a big game in the tight Region 7-2A race Tuesday night, beating rival West Lincoln on the road 41-36.

Foul trouble. That was the scene in the latter half of the game. Hitting 11 out of 20, compared to the Bears 11 out of 45, the Hornets were able to capitalize and use the Bears’ foul trouble to their advantage. 

“We hustled throughout the whole game and kept our head up,” Loyd Star junior Dane Smith said.

The Hornets opened up going on a five-point run before the Bears managed to find the net. Generating turnovers, Loyd Star was able to go up 12-5 at the end of the first period.

Although Loyd Star won on the boards in the second quarter, the Bears managed to put some offense together to close up the gap. The Hornets led 19-13 going into halftime.

West Lincoln clawed their way back into the game, but Loyd Star had enough offensive momentum to carry a 28-24 lead to the final period.

Refusing to give up, the Bears scrapped their way closer to the Hornets. Both teams were in foul trouble in the latter part of the fourth. Loyd Star managed to connect on more charity shots than West Lincoln to win by a final score of 41-36.

“We played a whole game tonight. We moved the ball well and shot the ball well,” Loyd Star coach Gene Britt said. “The ball game was very aggressive. Making the key foul shots right there at the end is what won the ball game.”

West Lincoln coach Brooks Smith said his squad played well, but missed too many shots.

“I thought defensively we played good, but you gotta be able to make shots and we couldn’t do that,” he said.

The win moves Loyd Star to 5-2 in Region 7-2A, with an overall record of 11-9.

The loss moves West Lincoln to 4-3 in the region with a 12-10 overall record.

Junior Dane Smith led Loyd Star with 28 points, eight rebounds and one steal. Senior Titus Sims followed with five points, six rebounds and one assist. Junior Jett Calcote made three points, five rebounds, two assists and one steal. Senior Patrick Price also had three points and five rebounds. Sophomore Stephen Mills finished with two points. Junior Zebain Price had one rebound and one assist.

West Lincoln will host Region 7-2A rival Bogue Chitto on Friday.

Loyd Star travels to Amite County Friday night for a Region 7-2A road game.

The Daily Leader sought to interview the top-performing players from West Lincoln, but West Lincoln coach Brooks Smith has prohibited his team from speaking to the press.

Story by Dave Linton