WESSON — Sophomore guard Joe Holliday led the Co-Lin Wolveswith 21 points and 9 rebounds on their way to a big 71-60 SouthDivision win over the Gulf Coast Bulldogs Thursday night in MullenGymnasium.

In the womens game, Co-Lin struggled all night as they dropped a10-point, 73-63 decision to Gulf Coast. It was the first divisionloss of the season for the Lady Wolves.

Co-Lin travels to Meridian Monday for more division action.

The Wolves improved to 7-3 in the South and 12-6 overall. TheBulldogs fell to 16-7 and 6-3.

The Co-Lin women stand 9-1 in the division and 13-5 on theseason. Gulf Coast improved to 14-7 and 5-5.

Co-Lin 71, Gulf Coast 60

The game was close in the first half. With 1:15 left, Gulf Coastcut Co-Lin’s lead to 2 points, 34-32. Co-Lin’s Geric Anderson firedin his only field goal of the game with 60 seconds and Holliday hithis fifth trey in the final 3 seconds for 5 big points that pushedthe hosts advantage 7 points, 39-32, at halftime.

“in the second half, we played well offensively anddefensively,” said Co-Lin men’s coach Dennis Sims after the win.”The kids played well defensively. We shot our free throws better.”The Wolves finished 13 of 19 from the charity stripe.

Gulf Coast, coached by Greg Holmes, cut the deficit to 5 points,64-59, with 1:29 left to play. Co-Lin sophomore guard Ivory Dishmonwent 5 of 6 from the free throw line to put the Wolves up 69-60with 33 seconds left on the clock.

Co-Lin sophomore center Arvel Keys, who had a pair of bigdefensive rebounds in the final minute, made a mid-court steal andreturned it for a dunk that brought the partisan crowd to theirfeet in the final 20 seconds of the game. Keys finished with 6points and 9 rebounds.

“Holliday had a real good first half,” added Sims. Hollidayscored 19 of his 21 points in the first half, including 5 treys,and pulled down 9 rebounds. “Keys got some big rebounds whenChristian Marshall fouled out (at the 3:55 mark).

Adding support in the Co-Lin win with 12 points and 4 assistswas Ivory Dishmon. Marshall finished with 10 points and 4rebounds.

Gulf Coast freshman guard Henry Salter led the way with 24points and 10 rebounds. Finishing with 11 points was MarcusMillender. Davons Deans grabbed 9 rebounds. A.J. Magee led with 14assists.

Gulf Coast 73, Co-Lin 63

The Lady Wolves looked lost in the first half after leadingbriefly 10-9 at the 12:21 mark. The Lady Bulldogs came back to takea 32-19 lead at halftime.

“In the first half, we didn’t do anything,” said Co-Lin women’scoach Gwyn Young. “We weren’t ready to play. We had no effort.”

Despite trailing by as much as 20 points several times, Co-Lincame back to cut the deficit to 6 points three times but nevercould get any closer.

“Gulf Coast played hard,” stated Young. “They are fighting for aspot in the tournament.”

Freshman guard Nikki Williams powered the Lady Wolves with 14points. Erica Trahan fired in 12 points and led off the backboardswith 10 rebounds. Netting 11 points was Aiesha Collins followed byDominique Whitfield with 10 points and 5 rebounds. Making 3 stealswas Corissa Tillman.

Gulf Coast was placed 5 players in double figures. Leading theway was sophomore guard Gail Weary with 19 points. Davina Wellsnetted 16 points followed by Brittney Reese and Sandy Thompson with11 points and Shaquenta Lee with 10. Reese also led off thebackboards with 10 rebounds.

“We have to regroup,” added Young. “We need to be fighting for aposition. Meridian will be ready to play (Monday).”