The first round of Region 7-2A play concluded on Thursday with the boys’ basketball matchup that many area fans had long circled on their schedules between host Loyd Star and visiting Bogue Chitto.

Bumped back due to icy weather from the original date on Tuesday, Bogue Chitto used a third quarter surge and a 40-point effort from junior point guard Devonta “Bam” Thompson to pick up a 78-63 victory over the homestanding Hornets.

The win moves BC and coach Marc Howard to 19-1 on the season. Thompson, the reigning All-Area MVP, had 20 points at halftime and finished 12-of-12 at the free throw line.

Bogue Chitto got off to a quick start and led 36-25 at the halftime break.

Loyd Star and coach Seth Britt responded to start the third quarter as a 10-0 spurt to start the second half made it a one-point game.

Senior guard Nathan Mills scored to put the Hornets up 39-38, which was a lead that Loyd Star held only briefly.

Bogue Chitto regained the advantage on a Noah Magee dunk as the Bobcats closed the third quarter on a 21-2 run. That put the lead back out at 59-41 as they firmly controlled the final quarter.

Magee, a junior, was the only other Bobcat in double digits as he scored 18 points. Senior guard Shomari Jenkins scored six points, sophomore forward Randy Crisler added seven points, junior guard Shakell Jenkins scored five points and sophomore forward Tripp McCaffrey added two points to round out the BC scoring.

Senior forward Colby Terrell led Loyd Star with 17 points, 14 of those coming in the first half. Senior guard Caden Yarborough scored 16 points, Mills chipped in 14 points, junior guard Ethan Smith scored eight points, sophomore Anthony Humphrey scored six points and junior Eli Thornton chipped in two points for the Hornets.

Bogue Chitto had last played on Jan. 12 when they beat Amite County 69-65 at home. The Bobcats will host the Region 7-2A Tournament at the conclusion of the regular season. They beat district foes Wilkinson County 80-37 and West Lincoln 80-50 in the first run through division play.

The Bobcats will begin their second run through the region on Friday, Jan. 19 by hosting Wilkinson County. They’ll wrap up the regular season on Feb. 1 by hosting Loyd Star. The lone loss this season for BC was a 60-57 setback to Franklin County in Meadville.

Loyd Star (13-4) sits in second place as they own wins over West Lincoln (72-37) and Amite County (62-58). The Hornets had their first meeting with Wilkinson County cancelled after the gym in Woodville lost power midway through the girls’ game.

Loyd Star travels to West Lincoln on Friday, Dec. 19 for another region contest.