McCOMB – McComb High School flexed its formidable basketball muscles Friday night, sweeping a Division 7-4A basketball double-header from Lawrence County.

In the girls’ game, Angelia Johnson’s Lady Tigers jumped out to a big early lead and went on to win, 47-38. Hilton Harrell’s top-ranked Tigers then upped their record to 16-0 with a 74-48 victory of the LCHS Cougars.

In the boys’ game, McComb, the reigning 4A state champion and a prohibitive favorite to return to the Mississippi Coliseum, exploded on Lawrence County in the first half. After LCHS scored the first six points of the game, the Tigers went on a 34-4 run to take total control.

McComb led 34-12 at halftime. Lawrence County rallied to cut the Tigers’ lead down to 12 points late in the third quarter, only to see McComb stretch its final margin of victory to 26 points.

Harrell’s Tigers employed an incredibly balanced scoring attack. Antonio Cowart led with 16. Emanual Thompson followed with 15, 12 of them in the fourth quarter. Kadarron Mason was a force inside, scoring 14 and dominating the backboards. Carlos Porter added 13 points, and Quadarius Green netted double figures with 12.

Now 16-0 overall, the McComb boys improved to 2-0 in Division 7-4A play. Lawrence County fell to 11-7 overall and 2-1 in division play.

Pat Bridges’ boys got 32 of their 48 points from the junior backcourt duo of Phillip Moore and Gabriel Lewis, each with 16 points. Moore added five rebounds and three assists. Lewis pulled down six rebounds. Keyshawn Feazell led Lawrence County in rebounding with eight. Keith Davis had four steals.

The girls’ game was somewhat similar. McComb jumped to a 17-1 lead and led 29-8 at halftime. The Lady Tigers looked bigger, faster, quicker and more athletic in dominating the first half action. Lawrence County snapped into action in the second half. Their full-court pressure defense got the Lady Cougars back into the game at least somewhat.

Point guard Mylisha Hammond led McComb’s first-half outburst. She led all scorers with 15 points. Kevanique Butler added 12. While scoring just four points, McComb’s 6’4″ freshman center CeUndra McGhee was one of the dominant figures in the game. While in the game, McGhee blocked or at least altered virtually every Lawrence County inside shot.

Sophomore guard Haven Johnson appeared to be back at full strength after an early-season knee injury led Lawrence County with 13 points. DeNeisha Dickson and Camryn Davis each added eight for the Lady Cougars. Davis pulled down 11 rebounds. Johnson had six rebounds and four steals. Zipporah Baylis had seven rebounds and three steals.

McComb’s girls improved to 7-6 overall, and 2-0 in the division, with the win. Vicki Rutland’s Lady Cougars fell to 10-8 overall and 2-1 in Division 7-4A play.

Lawrence County returns to action Tuesday as they prepare for another road division test in Magnolia against the South Pike Eagles. The Lady Cougars tip off at 6 p.m., followed by the boys’ game.