With a capacity crowd on hand at the Enterprise gymnasium Fridaynight, Lincoln County rivals Loyd Star and Enterprise waged war intheir basketball version of the Sting Bowl. Both teams displayedoutstanding basketball skills in the varsity doubleheader but itwould be the host Lady Jackets and Jackets coming away withimpressive wins.

Lady Jacket guard Andrea Harthorne burned the Loyd Star girlsfor 21 points, including five 3-point baskets, as Enterpriseclaimed a 46-39 win over the Lady Hornets. The Jackets, led byguard Rufus Allen’s 20 points, claimed a hard-fought 64-58 victoryover the Loyd Star Hornets.

Enterprise hosts St. Aloysius Friday for 3 games, beginning witha JV girls game at 5 p.m. Loyd Star meets St. Andrews in a Division6-2A showdown Tuesday.

Enterprise 48, Loyd Star 39

“We are more than a one-man show,” said Lady Jacket head coachBilly Vaughn following the game. “When Lacey is not on, someone hasto step up.” Vaughn was referring to senior guard/forward LaceyPalomarez who scored 39 points in Tuesday night’s win over WestLincoln.

Enterprise (16-1) jumped to an 13-6 lead after one period.Harthorne took up the scoring slack left by Palomarez. She tossedin 18 of her game-high 21 points in the first half, including 4treys in the second quarter (14 points) to give Vaughn’s ballclub a31-20 advantage at the intermission.

Loyd Star (13-8), coached by Lori Britt, outscored Enterprise19-17 in the second half. The Lady Jackets defense was theiroffense, causing numerous turnovers and converting them into pointson the other end.

“We were able to hit some good shots,” added Vaughn. “Ourdefense helped us.”

Palomarez only scored 9 points, but supported her teammates with10 rebounds, 4 assists and 9 steals. Joyce Allen had 8 rebounds andAshley Harthorne pulled down 10 rebounds.

Jamekia Henderson pumped in 15 points to lead Loyd Star. Lendingsupport for the Lady Hornets was Ava Brown with 10 rebounds. BethSmith pulled down 11 rebounds. Whitney Hedgepeth had 2 steals and 2assists.

Enterprise 64, Loyd Star 58

Loyd Star (15-6), coached by Gene “Moochie” Britt” entertained a16-15 lead at the end of the first quarter. The Hornets led 34-29at halftime.

Enterprise (13-4) came to life in the third, outscoring LoydStar 16-12 to trail by 1 point, 46-45 entering the finalstanza.

Throughout the game, the Jacket combination of Rufus Allen(outside) and Shermaine Vaughn (inside) kept Enterprise close. Thiswas evident in the fourth as Allen torched the Hornets for agame-high 20 points, including two 3-point baskets. He also grabbed7 rebounds and dished out 4 assists. Vaughn grabbed several clutchrebounds after Hornet misses and displayed a soft touch on theoffensive end. This combination proved to be the difference in thegame.

“Shermaine is developing a soft touch around the basket,” addedVaughn. “Rufus shot the ball well tonight.”

Vaughn provided a double-double with 12 points and 12 rebounds,with 5 of those caroms coming in the final minutes of the game,along with 6 assists.

Lending support for Loyd Star was Seth Britt with 3 steals and 3assists. Jermaine Hunter and Jessie Sones pulled down 4 reboundsapiece. Demarcus Barnes paced the Hornets with 21 points, 7rebounds, 4 assists and 4 steals.

In the JV boys game, Josh Britt tossed in 16 points to lead theHornets to a 46-43 victory. Justin Kyzar led Enterprise with 15points.