WESSON — When Wesson guard Wade Williams’ three-point shot hitthe rim and spun out with no time remaining, the Forrest County AHSAggies breathed a sigh of relief. The Class 4A Aggies escaped afourth-quarter rally by the Cobras for a 57-56 victory Thursdaynight.

In the girls game, Wesson made in the fourth quarter on senior10 points center Kira Turnbo’s10 points but fell short of four atthe end and fell to Forrest County AHS 41-37. Turnbo finished thegame with a game-high 18 points.

This was the season opener for the Class 4A Aggies who are 1-0on the season.

Forrest County AHS 57, Wesson 56

Wesson (1-2) was already shorthanded with senior forwardCollin King sidelined with an ankle injury.

“We knew without Collin, it was 15 points right there,”said Kessler after the game. “But Blake Pickett played well. Wewere down 14 points and never quit.

“We fought back,” added Kessler. “We had the lastpossession.”

In the fourth quarter, the Cobras and the Aggiesexchanged the lead until Forrest County AHS guard Trey Thompsonnetted his 19th point of the game for the 57-56 lead with 22.9seconds remaining.

“Coach Kessler and I have the same philosophy,” saidForrest County coach Kyle Roana. “Kessler has his team playinghard. He has three guards as good as any in our Class 4A. We werefortunate to win.”

Starting guard Adrien Merchant, who fouled out with 10points with 4:45 left in the game, nailed a three-pointer at thebuzzer in the first quarter to give Wesson a brief 13-12 lead. Athalftime, Forrest County AHS had gone up by three points,26-23.

A 19-10 run by the Aggies in the third quarter put theCobras behind 45-33 going into the final frame.

Williams was the leading scorer for Wesson with 14points. Blake Pickett fired in 12 points. Mason Warren netted 11points followed by Merchant with 10.

Abram Robins pumped in 14 points for Forrest CountyAHS.

Forrest County AHS 41, Wesson 37

The Wesson girls (0-3) held Forrest County AHS scorelessin the fourth quarter and outscored the visitors 9-0 until thefinal 24 seconds in the game. The Lady Aggies held a one-point,38-37 lead and the Lady Cobras fouled guard Nikki Shows who went3-for-4 from the free-throw line to help secure thewin.

“I thought we looked good early on ,” said ForrestCounty AHS girls coach Michael Thornton. “We were not very good inthe fourth quarter. We need to get better offensively. I wasdisappointed in our inside defense.”

Thornton compliments Wesson’ Turnbo on her play. “Shedominated us on offense and defense inside.”

Wesson girls coach Jemmye Ann Helms was also pleasedwith Turnbo’s game play.

“Kira kept us in the game,” said Helms. “She went afterthe ball.”

The Lady Aggies led 13-10 in the first quarter thenpushed their lead to 27-18 at halftime and 38-27 going into thefinal frame when they missed every field goal they putup.

Freshman guard Perry K Furr added nine points for theLady Cobras.

“Our guards didn’t handle the ball well,” added Helms.”Our guard play needs work.”

Junior high action

The Wesson boys put away Dexter 40-22. Powering theCobras with 11 points was Cody King followed by Robert Hendersonwith 10.

The Dexter girls knocked off Wesson 17-13. Macie Caseand Anna Shelby Davis netted four points apiece for the LadyCobras.

Wesson travels to Brooklyn Thursday to play in theForrest County AHS Tournament. The tourney lasts twodays.