Both Newton County basketball teams dropped a pair of games last week as both teams face elimination games in this week’s division tournament.
The Lady Cougars lost 44-37 to Quitman and 41-31 to Northeast Jones this past week while Cougars lost 46-37 to Quitman and 80-59 to Northeast Jones.
Both Newton County teams will play elimination games in the 5-4A tournament at Mendenhall this week. The Lady Tigers will play Quitman on Tuesday at 7 p.m. while the boys will play Northeast Jones on Tuesday at 5:30 p.m.
Northeast Jones boys 80, Newton County 59
The Cougars got a balanced scoring attack but couldn’t fend off high-scoring Northeast Jones on Thursday.
County led 19-14 at the end of the first but Northeast outscored the Cougars 25-13 in the second to lead 39-32 at the half. The Tigers pulled away in the third as they outscored the Cougars 31-14 to take a 70-46 lead. County used a 13-10 advantage in the fourth for the final margin.
Josiah Cleveland, Alarys Johnson and Davion Hillie each had 11 points apiece while Deon Towner had 10 points. Jared Thames and Cam Dukes each had six points apiece while Justin Thompson had five points.
Quitman boys 46,
Newton County 37
The Panthers overcome a second-half deficit to take a nine-point win over the Cougars on Tuesday.
Quitman led 11-6 at the end of the first and 20-15 at the half. But County outscored Quitman 16-9 in the third to take a 31-29 lead going into the fourth. But Quitman rallied and outscored County 17-6 to take the win.
Josiah Cleveland led Newton County with 14 points while Chris Thames had nine points and Jamaal Croft added six points.
Quitman girls 44,
Newton County 37
The Lady Panthers used a big fourth period to pull away and beat the Lady Cougars by seven on Tuesday.
Quitman led 8-7 at the end of the first and 18-14 at the half. County tied the score at 28-28 by outscoring Quitman 14-10 in the third. Quitman took the win in the fourth as they outscored Newton County 16-9 in the fourth.
Naharih Brown led Newton County with 13 points while Hanna McDougle had six points and Remini Nickey added five points.
Northeast Jones 41,
Newton County 31
The Lady Cougars led for three quarters but only managed two fourth-period points as they fell by 10 to the Lady Tigers.
County led 10-9 at the end of the first and 20-16 at the half. Northeast outscored County 10-9 in the third to cut the lead to 29-26 going into the fourth. Northeast then outscored County 15-2 to take the win.
Christiyia Denson led County with nine points while Naharih Brown had seven points and Remini Nickey added five points.
