Holly Springs splits with North Panola

The Holly Springs Hawks used a big second half Tuesday, Jan. 14, to earn a 68-60 win over North Panola in District 23A competition.

Jasiah Johnson led the way for the home team, scoring 16 of his game-high 19 points over the final 16 minutes of the match-up. Also hitting in double digits were Christopher Hale with 12 and Cadarius Nunnally with 10.

The Holly High boys trailed by two at halftime but emerged from the break on a mission. Hale, Johnson and Nunnally each nailed a three in the third quarter to light the fire. The Hawks outscored the Cougars 21-9 in the third to take control of the contest and then carried the momentum to the fourth. Johnson hit two more longrange shots in the final quarter.

Other top point producers for Holly Springs were Jason Jeffries with nine and Joseph Petty and Jaylen Cassidy with eight each.

A feisty group of Holly Springs Lady Hawks gave North Panola all it could handle before dropping a 49-44 decision.

The Lady Hawks turned on the defensive heat from the get-go in a back-and-forth battle. Holly Springs was up 9-8 following one quarter and trailed 2421 at the halfway point. The game was tied at 29 with 4:06 remaining in the third period. But it was the Lady Cougars who came up with the key buckets down the stretch and escaped Holly Springs with the five-point victory.

Teyuana Reaves and Zianna Schlender were the leading scorers for the Lady Hawks, each pouring in 17 points.