SPRINGVILLE - The Wildcats and Lady Wildcats battled with South Pontotoc on Friday with both teams dropping in close games.

Lady Wildcats

South Pontotoc jumped out in the first quarter on a 10-2 run, but the Lady Cats came back strong in the second with a 13-8 run of their own. Houlka hit the locker room down by only three points but couldn't quite recoup in the second half and took the 29-33 loss to the Lady Cougars.

Candiace McIntosh led the Houlka girls with 13 points.

Wildcats

The Wildcats doubled up on the Cougars (14-7) to take a 26-22 halftime lead, but the South boys made a 15-8 run to regain it in the third quarter.

In the fourth, the Cats outscored the Cougars but only by three and not the five needed to tie and the Cougars slipped past with a 50-48 win.

Kevin Moore led for Houlka with 15, followed by Dante Turner with 12. Jermaine Bean led for South with 15 followed by Gary Lipsey with 12.

Upcoming action

The Wildcats will make a short road trip to Cumberland Thursday to take on the East Webster Wolverines and then skip across the county line to tackle Vardaman on Friday. They will finish up their week hosting Ingomar on Saturday and will see holiday action in the Baldwyn tournament on Dec. 28-29.