WESSON – Herman Johnson is not built like your averagebasketball player. In fact, the 6-foot-4, 245-pound junior excelson the football field as a lineman for the Wesson Cobras. He alsoplays basketball.

Tuesday night, Johnson had his best night ever, scoring 16points and collecting nine rebounds to help the Cobras to a 59-45win over the Saint Andrew’s Saints in Division 6-2A action.

“I feel great,” said Johnson who has been playing basketball fortwo years. “My team came through for me. We stepped it up on ourman-to-man defense. We won the game.”

In the girls game, the Lady Saints had just enough firepower toclip the Lady Cobras 37-24.

Wesson travels to Piney Woods Friday night for more divisionaction. The Cobras will host the Enterprise Yellow Jackets Thursdaynight for junior high basketball games beginning at 5 p.m.

Wesson 59. St. Andrew’s 45

In the third quarter, St. Andrew’s cut Wesson’s lead to sixpoints, 40-34. Johnson answered with a three-pointer that pushedWesson’s lead back up nine points, 43-34. That was a key playaccording to Saints’ boys coach Todd Yates.

“Johnson stepped it up tonight,” said Yates. “He was a bigfactor in the second half. “

Wesson (6-14, 2-6) took advantage of St. Andrew’s press for somequick baskets and steals for a 22-12 lead at the end of the firstquarter. An 11-10 run in the second quarter gave the Cobras a 33-22lead over the Saints.

“I thought pressing would be most effective but they (Wesson)scored off of it,” explained Yates.

The Cobras hit a brief cold spell in the third quarter but cameback for a nine-point, 43-34 lead going into the final frame.Wesson led by as much as 13 points, 51-38, with 3:59 left as St.Andrew’s chipped away at the lead, cutting it to nine points but nocloser.

Senior center Roderick Clay led the Cobras with 20 points andeight rebounds.

“I am proud of them,” said Wesson boys coach Billy O. Britt.”They played as hard as any group I’ve coached. We have won onemore game than last year and one more division game. We still havesome left.”

St. Andrew’s (9-11, 1-7) got an 18-point performance fromCreshton Hardy.

“Coach Britt did an excellent job prepping them tonight,” addedYates. “They outplayed, outhustled and outworked us.”

St. Andrew’s 37, Wesson 24

The Lady Cobras (4-13, 0-8) struggled against the Lady Saintsdefense. St. Andrew’s (11-9, 4-4) led 13-8 in the first quarter and21-14 at the half. Wesson top scorer, Hayley Carr, netted 12 of her14 points in the first half.

“Wesson is as good as they have been in a while,” said St.Andrew’s girls coach Burney King. “Coach Jemmye Helms is playing alot of young kids.”

Lane McCullough paced the Lady Saints with 12 points.

“I am pleased with our effort,” added King. “We had a dismalshooting performance. It’s still good to win one on the road.”

Junior Varsity Game

St. Andrew’s recorded a 37-23 win over Wesson in the girls game.Eleanor Hanlin led the Lady Saints with eight points.

Kira Turnbo and Bethany Dykes netted eight points apiece forWesson.