Thursday sports: Gators snap a pair of wins from Tunica Academy

Lake Cormorant basketball teams hosted Tunica Academy in a pair of games Thursday in the Swamp that provided a tuneup for a big Region 1-6A match up Friday night at home against Grenada. 

The Gators ran their record to 11-3 with a fourth straight win, 72-27 in the boys contest. The lopsided score was not because of a big lead in the first half, because it wasn’t there. The bulge on the scoreboard happened after a 27-21 Gators’ lead at halftime became 47-24 after three quarters. 

When the lead grew to 62-26 with about five minutes left in the contest, the benches had cleared to let reserves finish the game with a continuous clock in effect.  

“We came out sluggish and didn’t play to our level in the first half,” said Lake Cormorant coach Kendrick Davis. “Second half, we got a little momentum going and closed the game out.”

Michael Banks II and Da’Len Anderson each had 12 points, while Vernon Green III added 11 points for Lake Cormorant. Joe Aikens led the Blue Devils with 11 points.  

The Lake Cormorant Lady Gators rallied to claim a 45-35 victory over Tunica Academy in the first contest Thursday night.  

After trailing 12-11 after one quarter and 20-18 at halftime, the Lady Gator broke through in the second half to take a 34-26 lead going into the fourth quarter. 

“We played with a little more defensive intensity in the second half, played together and played smart,” said Lake Cormorant coach Justin Neely. “Every day we try to work on our defense that has won the games we’ve been playing in.” 

Isabella Conaway led Lake Cormorant with 17 points, while Sydney Turner matched Conaway’s points with 17 points for Tunica Academy.  The Lady Gators moved to 7-6 with the victory.

Here’s your Thursday night DeSoto County scoreboard:

Thursday, Jan. 4

Prep boys basketball

Lake Cormorant 72, Tunica Academy 27

Prep girls basketball

Lake Cormorant 45, Tunica Academy 35

Prep boys soccer

Lewisburg 2, Horn Lake 0

Hernando 1, DeSoto Central 0

Center Hill 2, Saltillo 0

Lake Cormorant 2, Olive Branch 2 (Lake Cormorant wins 5-4 in penalty kicks)

Prep girls soccer

Lewisburg 7, Horn Lake 0

• Lewisburg scoring: Harper Hensley (2), Kassidy Pulliam (2)

Hernando 4, DeSoto Central 0

• Hernando scoring: Rosa Ibarra (2)

Saltillo 7, Center Hill 0

Olive Branch 9, Lake Cormorant 2

Prep wrestling

Lewisburg 51, Saltillo 29

Lewisburg 74, Tupelo 6

SPORTS ETC.: Friday’s basketball doubleheader between Northpoint Christian and Harding Academy at Northpoint will feature a presentation of TSSAA state championship rings to members of the 2023 Division II-A baseball state champions. The presentation will be made between the boys’ and girls’ contests. The Trojans last May won the state title at Murfreesboro, Tenn. in their third straight appearance in the tournament’s championship round.