Basketball season is in full swing at Newton County even though the football team is still in the Class 4A playoffs.
That showed this week as the Cougars lost a pair of contests, falling 64-38 to Leake Central and 75-33 to Morton. The Lady Cougars split their two games, beating Morton 43-39 and falling 51-48 to Leake Central.
Newton County will travel to West Lauderdale in their only game this week on Tuesday. Friday’s scheduled game with Sebastopol will be rescheduled because the Newton County football team is in the playoffs.
Leake Central girls 51,
Newton County 48
The Lady Cougars led early but the Lady Gators rallied to take a three-point win.
Nahriah Brown led Newton County with 19 points while Christaysia Denson had 10 points. Keasja Wansley and Kaylynn Johnson each scored six points apiece for the Lady Cougars.
Leake Central boys 64,
Newton County 38
The Gators pulled away with big advantages in the second and four period to take a 26-point win over the Cougars.
“Without our football players, we are really short-handed,” County coach Steve Harber said. “We are just trying to survive until we get those kids from football. Honestly, we’ve got some kids on the court that may not even dress and will play junior varsity once we get our football players out. It’s just tough right now."
Josiah Cleveland and Davion Hillie each scored 10 points apiece to lead the Cougars.
County girls 43, Morton 39
The Lady Cougars grabbed an early lead and held off a second-half charge by the Lady Panthers to take a four-point win.
County led 10-4 at the end of the first and outscored the Lady Panthers 15-9 in the second to lead 25-13 at the half. Morton outscored County 18-11 in the third and 8-7 in the fourth for the final margin.
Remni Nickey led County with 15 points while Nahriah Brown had 11 points. Chrstaysia Denson had seven points and Jayden Mack added six points.
Morton 75, County 33
After trailing by just three at the end of the first, the Cougars were outscored 61-22 over the final three periods as they dropped a 42-point decision.
“They were really long and athletic,” Harber said. “And they kept their starters in the whole game. I’m just glad nobody got hurt. Like I said, we were just trying to survive until we get everybody out.”
Josiah Cleveland was the only player in double digits with 11 points.
