SENATOBIA — The Southwest basketball teams began the 2011-12 season on a down note in Senatobia on Tuesday night, dropping a pair of games to homestanding Northwest. The Lady Bears fell 88-73, while the Bears went down 86-79.
Southwest stayed close throughout the first half, taking a 32-29 lead on a Shaniece Sheffield free throw with 4:26 left before the break.
However, a 24-8 run allowed the hosts to take a 53-40 lead into intermission and Senatobia was never seriously challenged in the second half, going up by as many as 21 points late in the game.
Despite the season-opening loss, Southwest coach Brad Phillips said he thought his team battled all the way through to the end.
“Turnovers and free throws hurt us,” he said. “We’re just going to have to regroup and get ready for Baton Rouge.”
The Lady Bears were plagued all night by turnovers and ended the night with 31 and made only 5 of 15 free throws.
Sheffield provided a bright spot on the night for the Lady Bears with 32 points. She connected on 9 of 13 field goals (3 of 5 from 3-point range) and 11 of 16 free throws. Sophomore Shanekqua Bibbs was the only other Southwest player in double figures with 15.
Cassie Berry and Lacey Orr both chipped in eight points while Sharhae Williams had four. Alexis Avery, Julencia Brown and Taylor Williams all scored two apiece.
Bridgette Griffin led four Northwest players in double figures with 20 points. The Lady Rangers made 17 of 31 free throws.
On the men’s side, Southwest led most of the first half and went into the break with a 44-39 lead.
The Rangers overcame their deficit to take a 51-48 lead with 15:14 left in the game before Southwest regained control and took a 53-51 lead on a Wesley Blackmon layup at the 14:10 mark. Southwest then built its lead to 67-59 on a Bridgewater layup with 9:27 left, but could not put the Rangers away.
Northwest took a 77-76 lead with 2:23 left on a Tevin Moore basket and held on for the win.
“Anytime you go on the road you want to be close enough at the end to have a chance to win,” said Southwest coach Casey Carter. “We had that chance and weren’t able to get it done tonight.”
Blackmon led four Bears in double figures with 18 points on the night. Bridgewater added 17 while Michael Hall and Henry both chipped in 10 points. Parker Moore registered eight points in the game with Christopher Lawrence scoring six and Curtis Haynes five. Vincent Gable netted three points and Joshua Brannon two. Southwest hit 8 of 14 free throws on the night and turned the ball over only seven times.
“Winning or losing (this game) wasn’t going to dictate how the season goes, so we will learn from our mistakes and get better tomorrow in practice,” Carter said. “Overall, I was proud of (our) effort and focus.”
Southwest takes a few days off before opening the home portion of its schedule on Monday when it hosts Baton Rouge Community College. Tip off for the women’s game is at 5 p.m.
