West Lincoln’s varsity basketball teams found the friendlyconfines of Jack Case Gymnasium to be just what they needed Tuesdaynight for their battle with archrival Bogue Chitto. In the girlsgame, West Lincoln ambushed Bogue Chitto 48-41, handing the Lady’Cats their first loss in six games. The Bears cruised to a 73-42win over the winless Bobcats in the varsity boys game.

The Lady Bears (5-2) got a game-high 18 pointsfrom senior guard Dana King. Sophomore guard Lauren Smith pumped in15 points. Senior center Hannah Johnson grabbed 11 rebounds.Freshman Alicia Kennedy had 8 rebounds and Smith 7.

“Our girls missed some crucial free throws but they playedhard,” said West Lincoln coach Lane Young. “Overall, I waspleased.”

West Lincoln led its Division 7-1A rival by 10 points, 26-16 athalftime. The Lady Bears made 9 of 14 free throws for the game.

Bogue Chitto girls coach Mickey Myers said he expected the LadyBears to play hard against his team. “We got outplayed in the housethat Jack built,” said Myers, a 1978 West Lincoln graduate whoplayed for Jack Case.

“King and Smith made some big plays and shots,” Myers added. “Wemust shoot the ball better to be a good team.”

A 3-point play by King with 15 seconds left helped secure thewin.

The Lady ‘Cats (5-1) got 18 points and 7 rebounds from seniorguard Jessica Melton. Senior guard Randi Moak had 10 rebounds.Yolanda Drummond and Meleah Brown each had 7 boards.

The Bears (2-5) found their shooting touchafter being held to season-low 34 points in last Friday night’sloss at North Pike. They roared to a 52-20 halftime lead over theBobcats (0-6) who are struggling through a major rebuildingseason.

Senior forward Luke Lofton led 4 Bears in double figures with 17points and 11 rebounds. Shane Lynch chipped in 15 points, BrooksSmith 11 and Tyler Smith 10.

On the backboards, Stacy Fells grabbed 12 rebounds. Brooks Smithhad 6.

“Our boys played great the first half,” said Coach Young. “Theykept the tempo going in the second half.”

The Bears carried a 68-30 lead into the fourth quarter.

Bogue Chitto coach Theo Black said his team must continueworking hard to get better. “At times we play good and at othertimes we don’t. West Lincoln was ready to play and we weren’t.

“We didn’t get the job done tonight,” said Black. “We are notrebounding and not executing as a team.”

The Bobcats got 19 points from junior forward NicholasSmith.

BC Wins Junior High

Sixteen points by Dontae Ratcliff and 13 by Keyaunna Perkins ledBogue Chitto to a 41-27 win in junior high action. Antonio Barnesadded 8 points.

Aaron Shaw’s 14 points paced the Bears. Bradleigh Rice had 6points and Colby Moak 5. Latoya Braxton had 4 points.

In the girls game, Bogue Chitto rolled to a 33-19 win, led byKimberlie Thomas with 12 points and Devan Welch with 11.

Four points by Annie Rushing led West Lincoln in scoring. KaylaMoak and Kaitlyn Dyess had 3 points.