In a rare, late season non-region high school basketball matchup, it was the homestanding Loyd Star Hornets taking a pair of games from the visiting Stringer Red Devils Monday night.

In the opening girls’ game, coach Gene “Moochie” Britt saw nine of his Lady Hornets score as they cruised to a 63-42 victory. In varsity boys’ action, coach Seth Britt and his crew gutted out a tough 49-41 victory.

The Lady Hornets (14-7) had three players in double figures led by senior forward Taylor Smith with 15 points and six rebounds. Sophomore point guard Aubrey Britt added 10 points and senior guard Ta’Maria Townsend added 10 points as well. 

Marleigh Bullock chipped in eight points and Carly Beth Wallace added seven points for LS. Kelsie Foster and Calia Beard scored four points each. Balee Zumbro scored three points while Carson Hughey rounded out the LS scoring with two points.

Wallace and Britt each handed out five assists and Hughey made four while grabbing five steals.

Loyd Star led 48-18 at halftime and had previously beaten Stringer 72-26 on Nov. 14 in Jasper County.

The Lady Hornets are currently 4-2 in Region 7-2A action — which puts them in second place behind West Lincoln (6-0). Wesson and Bogue Chitto both trail with 3-3 records.

The win was some welcomed medicine for the boys’ team as they busted an eight-game losing skid that came despite Loyd Star playing better basketball of late.

Last week, they were narrowly beaten 58-54 by a West Lincoln team that is firmly set as the second-place team in the region behind Amite County.

Stringer (1A) had beaten the Hornets 48-47 when the two schools met earlier in the season.

The Hornets (9-12) got a season high 26 points from senior Reese DeHart. DeHart was coming off of a 24-point game against West Lincoln.

Sophomore Nathan Calcote added eight points for LS. Senior Stephen Mills and junior Lawson Smith each scored six points apiece for the Hornets. Junior forward Will McCullough added two points and senior center Peyton Morse scored one point.

Mills pulled down a team high 13 rebounds and Smith led the way with five steals.

Friday, Loyd Star travels to Amite County and on the following Monday they’ll play their final regular season home game against Wesson.