The French Camp Academy boys and girls basketball teams both had a win over Noxapater and a loss to Ethel in the first two Region 5-1A games of the season.
The Panthers defeated Noxapater 58-46 but lost to Ethel 50-40. For the Lady Panthers there was a 41-29 win over Noxapater, followed by a 38-36 loss to Ethel.
The Panthers and Lady Panthers played West Lowndes Tuesday and have home games with McAdams Friday. Both are region opponents.
The Panthers broke open the Noxapater game by outscoring the Tigers 15-7 in the third quarter for a 44-32 lead. “It was the first game back from Christmas and it took us a while to get going,” said coach Robert Leathers.
Derrion Smith led French Camp with 23 points. “We ran our offense and he was wide open every time,” Leathers said. “He finished well.”
C.J. Johnson added 16 points for the Panthers.
French Camp led Ethel 28-25 at the half, but was held to 12 second-half points. “We played pretty well defensively. The problem was we couldn't make a shot,” Leathers said. “We shot the ball over the rim, under the rim. We just couldn't get it to go in the hoop.”
Johnson had 12 points and Smith 11.
Grace Ann Wade had 15 points and Jasmine Bonty 13 in the Lady Panthers' victory over Noxapater.
The Ethel game was close the whole way with Ethel able to hold on for the two-point victory. “It was a hard fought game,” said French Camp coach Polly LeVert. “We just couldn't get over the hump.”
Jordan Carter had a game-high 12 points for French Camp.
