HOULKA - The Houston Hilltoppers and Houlka Wildcats played an uncharacteristic low-scoring game, but it all came down to the final seconds, as it always does in the county rivalry.

The Wildcats got off to a slow start as the Toppers outscored them 16-4 in the first quarter, but got their legs back under them to gain two points by the end of the third. While two points may not sound like much, the Wildcats had to match the Toppers 21-point second quarter and then go over it, to stay in contention.

Turnovers marred shooting possibilities on both ends of the court, keeping the scoring out of the 80-plus range that fans have seen in the past couple of years.

Kirby Jones continued to be the go-to man during the early quarters, but George French got in the mix with some saving buckets in the second half.

The fourth quarter saw the Toppers ahead 48-38, but the Wildcats aren't the kind of team that quits before the buzzer and cut the lead to five in the final minutes. Kevin Moore's all-out, all-game effort kept the Houlka fires stoked and Dante Turner's steal for goal put the Cats within five with a minute to go. Houston's Xavier Cousins and Houlka's Brandon Isabell matched buckets with the Topper holding the five-point lead for the win.

Moore led all scorers with 14, followed by Turner with 11. Houston was led by Kirby Jones and George French with 13 each, followed by Devante Pulliam with 12.

Lady Toppers 59, Houlka 47

The county rivals went mostly even through the first quarter and stayed close in the second, with the Lady Toppers gaining a 32-28 lead at the half, but the third quarter told the tale of the game as the Houston girls turned on the jets to move ahead 44-22. The Lady Cats had their share of opportunities at the goal, but the third quarter was not kind to them and they could not get their shots to sink. Despite a fourth quarter rally, the Lady Toppers matched it and held off the Lady Cats for the win.

Houston's Coach Gray was pleased to see her girls recover from a lackluster opening.

"I thought we were a little flat at the beginning, but they worked hard to overcome it," Gray said. "There were some mental errors, but they made up for it in the second half.

The win put the Lady Toppers at 14-4 on the season.

TyNita Baker and Jasmine Pierce led Houston with 18 each, followed by Shanae Fox with 13. Candiace McIntosh led the Lady Cats, and all scorers, with 28.