Indians lose two

The Byhalia Indians faced some stiff competition when they returned to action after a brief holiday recess.

The Indians lost to both Heritage Academy, one of the top teams in the Mid-South Association of Independent Schools, and Class 5A Cleveland Central in the DeSoto Central Christmas Invitational.

The second and fourth quarters didn’t go well for Byhalia in a 57-39 loss to Heritage, from Columbus, on Monday, Dec. 27.

Mario King scored six firstquarter points as the Indians and Patriots were tied after the initial eight minutes.

Heritage scored 19 points in the second quarter, 10 of those from the free-throw stripe, while holding Byhalia to just eight points.

The Patriots led 31-20 at the halfway point.

Byhalia, with some balanced scoring, cut its deficit to six at the end of third but then got outscored 20-8 in the final period.

Top scorers for coach Derwin Cooper’s team were Kanaan DeBerry with 13, including a pair of threes, Jamarion Austin with 12, seven of those in the second half, and King with 10.

Trey Naugher had a gamehigh 25 points for Heritage Academy.

The next day the Indians dug themselves an early hole and couldn’t climb out. They fell 66-45 to Cleveland Central.

Byhalia trailed 27-6 at the end of the first quarter and 3921 at halftime.

Scoring in double digits for the Indians were DeBerry with 16 and Derrick Beard with 11.

Cleveland Central’s high scorer was Tayler Berryhill with 20.

Lady Indians

The Byhalia girls played one game in the DeSoto Central Christmas Invitational and dropped a close one, 40-35, to Senatobia.

The defenses dominated as the Lady Indians were down 54 after one quarter, 20-15 at halftime and 29-22 following three periods.

Jasmine Malone scored 25 of Byhalia’s 35 points. She was 10 of 16 from the free-throw line and hit one three.

The Lady Indians (4-10 overall and 1-0 in Region 2-3A) and the Indians (4-10 overall and 1-0 in the district) hosted 6A Lewisburg on Tuesday of this week. They visit North Panola Friday in district action. Next Tuesday, Jan. 11, they travel to Southwind (Tenn.).