SPRINGVILLE - "Too many missed free throws and too many turnovers," said Lady Wildcat head coach Jimmy Guy McDonald after his Houlka girls gave up a one-point 49-48 loss to South Pontotoc in the girls consolation game at the South Pontotoc Tournament on Saturday.

"We had the opportunity several times to ice that game, but we couldn't get it done."

Houlka went 7-of-17 from the line in the game, but held a 13-9 lead in the first period.

South senior Lana Goggins had six of the 5-5 Lady Cougars' nine points at the end of the first period, but was held to only five more points the rest of the game.

"She had a really big game the last time we played them (26 points), so they were really keying on her," said Lady Cougar head coach Matt Waldrop. "They doubled down on her every time the ball was thrown to her."

Defensively, Coach McDonald said, "We were right on the nose. For the most part, we were right where we needed to be every time they had the ball.

"There were, in the first half, three three-point shots that they were not supposed to hit, because we were not where we were supposed to be," he added, "and we did the same thing at the start of the third quarter.

"But after we realized where we were supposed to be, we did a good job."

The second period

After a jump shot by junior Sara Zachary gave Houlka a 17-9 lead in the early going of the second quarter, a 13-4 run by the Lady Cougars - that included the three-point shots by sophomores Emily Henson (2) and Elizabeth Henson - gave South the lead at 22-21 with just under two minutes before the half.

The 2-8 Lady Wildcats held the lead at the break, 24-22, when senior center Candiace McIntosh hit one of two free throws and banked in a shot from the field. McIntosh finished the game with 11 points.

The second half

After Goggins tied the game at 24-24, junior Cortney Collums' drive to the basket gave the Lady Cougars the lead with just under seven minutes left in the third.

South led 31-24 when Elizabeth Henson hit another three-pointer and Goggins made a steal, a rebound and another bucket.

The Lady Cougars again held a six-point lead at 34-28, before the Lady Wildcats made a six-point run to tie it up again when Zachary stuck one in from underneath to start the fourth quarter.

The game was tied at 34, 39, 41, 43, and 45 in the fourth, before Collums' base line jumper put the Lady Cougars up for good at 47-45.

"We were lucky to get that last little run, and they were not able to get back ahead of us at the end," Coach Waldrop said. "It was a good game."

Goggins picked up another steal and sophomore Lexie Wilson hit from under the goal to make it, 49-46.

Houlka sophomore Ranesha Townsend got two of her 14 points in the game with a lay up that ended the scoring at 49-48.

South's Emily Henson led all scorers with 16 points in Saturday's win.

Wrap up

- Lady Cats

Houlka began their week with a regular season game against the Lady Cougars on Dec. 1. The visiting Lady Cougars used a strong 18-11 fourth quarter run to secure a 48-40 over the hosting Lady Cats

The Houlka girls had a strong start in their Thursday game with Pontotoc, but the Lady Warriors came back in the second half and had a big 33-point fourth quarter to take the 73-41 win. Leading for Houlka were McIntosh with 16 and Townsend with 10.

- Wildcats

The boys team dropped to South on Dec. 1 after leading 38-37 in the third quarter. The Cougars got a 23-18 run to squeak by with a 48-40 win.

In tournament action, the Cats struggled with Pontotoc, trailing 27-23 at the half and made a stronger showing in the third to tie the Warriors at 42-all. The Pontotoc boys had a 22-point fourth quarter to take the five-point win, 54-69.

On Saturday, the Cats faced off with 4A Itawamba and gained a 38-21 halftime lead and held off an Indian surge for a 73-57 win.