Holly Springs wins two, loses two

The road proved favorable for Holly Springs teams in Region 2-3A action last week but not the home floor.

Both the Hawks and Lady Hawks swept Rosa Fort in Tunica and then lost match-ups at home against North Panola.

The Holly High boys, coached by Andre Jones, survived a nail-biter, 66-65, on Tuesday, Jan. 11, at Tunica.

It was tight throughout.

Marquavous Jones and Jabez Jones

provided the early firepower for the Hawks as they pulled ahead 17-12 after one quarter.

The lead was just one, 30-29, at intermission.

Jones carried the load in the third as Holly High went up by five. The Hawks then nailed some crucial free throws in the fourth and got out of Tunica with the one-point victory.

M. Jones was the top gun with 27 points. J. Jones followed with 12.

The Holly Springs Lady Hawks cruised in the opening game of the night ­ winning 49-12 over Rosa Fort.

The lead was 18-4 at halftime, and they really poured it on in the second half, outscoring the Lady Lions 31-8 on their way to the 37-point win.

Hitting in double digits for coach Jason Shivley’s Holly High team were Dajah Turner with 18, Chamilya Watson with 12 and Arkjah Sims with 10.

Holly High-North Panola The Hawks gave highly-ranked and district-leading North Panola all it could handle before dropping an 84-76 decision Friday at home. After a slow start by both squads, back-to-back buckets by Ded’Drick Faulkner gave Holly High an 8-0 lead with 5:25 left in the opening period.

The Cougars bounced back, tying the game at 8, and then snatching an 18-16 advantage at the end of the first.

Jabez Jones nailed a three from the corner, and Marquavous Jones scored on a putback. Holly High bounced back in front 23-18 just over a minute into the second quarter.

North Panola took control the rest of the first half and led 42-34 at intermission.

Holly Springs fell behind by as many as 11 in the third. Faulkner hit a couple of threes and scored two near the end of the third to slice the deficit to 58-54.

The Hawks pulled within two on Richaud Kirklin’s putback but that was as close as they would get. North Panola went up by as many as 10 and won by eight.

Holly High was six of 14 from the free-throw stripe and committed 14 turnovers.

Leading scorers were Faulkner with 27 and Kirklin and M. Jones with 10 each.

Cedquavious Hunter carried the Cougars. He poured in a game-high 39 points.

The Holly High girls put up a similar fight before falling 5846 to North Panola Friday.

The game was tied at 6 after one quarter. Jakyria Hankins opened the second with a three to put the Lady Hawks on top. The Lady Cougars snatched the lead at the 6:03 mark of the second and surged ahead 31-16 at halftime.

Holly Springs cut it to 10 on Watson’s three and then to seven, 39-32, on Turner’s bucket and free throw.

However, the Lady Hawks fell behind 44-32 at the end of the third.

They got to within 10 in the fourth before losing by 12.

Turner was the top gun for Holly High with 17 points. Watson scored 16.

The Hawks (5-11 overall and 2-3 in the district) and Lady Hawks (3-11 and 1-3) hosted Olive Branch on Tuesday of this week. They visit county rival and district opponent Byhalia Friday. The boys will play in the Hotbed Classic Saturday at New Albany. Next Tuesday, the Holly Springs teams visit Independence for district contests.