The Southwest Mississippi Community College Lady Bears dropped an important South Division game Monday night to visiting Jones County Junior College 79-72, while the Bears were defeated 81-65.
With their loss, the Lady Bears fell to 11-5 overall and dropped to third place in the division at 6-3. The Lady Bobcats climbed to 16-5 and into second place in the South at 7-3, one-half game ahead of Southwest.
The Lady Bears seemingly had the game well in hand in the first half as they took an early 5-0 lead on an Octavia Bearden three-point play and a layup from Desiree Dotey. Dotey landed a three-pointer from half court as the buzzer sounded to put the hosts up 40-29 at the break.
Jones County outscored Southwest 23-10 to open the second half and took the lead at 52-50 on a Kiana Harris jumper with 13:15 left in the game.
The Lady Bobcats pushed their lead to as many as 10 points before settling for the 7-point victory.
Toni Anthony scored a team-high 20 points to lead four Southwest players in double figures. Bearden added 17 points, while Dotey and Alisha Rayborn chipped in 12 and 10, respectively. Southwest hit 17 of 28 free throws.
Jones County also had four players in double figures. Ashley Lee led the way with 20 points. The Lady Bobcats were good on 12 of 16 free throws.
In the men’s game, Southwest took an early 7-0 lead over the division-leading Bobcats on baskets from Chad Jones and Ashton Fox, but was unable to sustain the momentum. Jones County rallied to lead 42-31 at the half en route to the 16-point victory.
Southwest fell to 3-13 overall and 3-6 in the South Division, while Jones County moved to 14-7 and 8-2.
Mitch Thompson led Southwest with 14 points. Blake Rhodus added nine points, while Fox, Chad Jones, D.J. Lewis and P.J. McCray all scored seven. The Bears made 10 of 19 free throws.
The Bobcats’ Kendrick McDonald led all scorers with 20 points. He and his teammates combined to make six of 14 free throws.
Southwest travels to Pearl River for games Thursday night. The women tip off at 5, followed by the men at 7.
