Staff Report

Varsity Boys: Sumter Co. 63, Greene Co. 60, OT

The Sumter Co. Wildcats worked overtime Friday night to defeat Greene Co. 63-60 in varsity boys action.

In a wild game matching up the 3A and 4A 2005 state basketball champions, Greene Co.’s Howard Crawford scored six points in the final 30 seconds of regulation to tie the game at 56 and send it to overtime. Sumter’s Jeremy Brown scored on a putback to put the Wildcats ahead 60-58 before three free throws pushed the lead to five. Greene Co.’s Charlie Hutton scored to cut the lead to three but a last-gasp three was no good and Sumter claimed the victory.

Sumter’s All-State guard Larry Foster led the Wildcats with 17 while Cordarrin Wilson added 16. Crawford led the visiting Tigers with 21 while Hutton scored 12 and All-State center Curtis Nickson scored 8.

Sumter Co. will be on the court again Tuesday night against Kemper Co., Miss., while Greene Co. will look to rebound at home Friday against area foe Choctaw Co.

John Essex 62, Marengo 61

John Essex senior Keniote Phillips stepped to the line with four seconds remaining and calmly nailed two free throws to give the Hornets a one-point victory on the road Friday night in Dixons Mills.

Keith Collier scored 18 to lead the Hornets, Phillips finished with 14, and Darnell Edwards also finished in double figures with 13.

Howard Dunning led the Panthers with 17 while James Bennett scored 15 and Roderick Witherspoon scored 13.

The win evened the Hornets’ record at 2-2 on the season. They will be in action again Friday at Sunshine.

Linden 71, Marengo 34

The Linden Patriots tipped off their season with a commanding home victory Saturday while the Marengo Panthers fell for the second time in two nights.

Four Linden players finished the game in double figures as Wesley Hodges led the Patriots with 15, Darnell Richardson finished with 12, Gary Williams added 11, and Jared Jackson chipped in 10.

Howard Dunning led the Panthers’ effort with 8 points.

Both teams will take the court again Tuesday. Linden will look to improve to 2-0 at home against visiting Keith while Marengo will look to bounce back at home when they face 4A Choctaw Co.

Varsity girls: Marengo 41, John Essex 28

The Marengo Panthers visited John Essex and went home with a 13-point victory in varsity girls’ action Friday night.

L. Quinney and L. Dumas each finished in double figures with 11 points for the Lady Panthers. Nyeshia Daniels had 13 and Lytonya Allen 6 for John Essex in the losing effort.