By MICHAEL BOYLAN
Sports Editor

Starr's Mill met Fayette County for the second time this season last Friday and for the girls the results were pretty much the same.

The Lady Panthers (7-3) benefitted from more experience and more quickness, defeating the Lady Tigers (4-6), 53-40. Amy Holloway led Starr's Mill with 20 points, while Erin Ricker scored eight and Jamie Vining chipped in six.

“We played a very fast-paced game,” said Lady Panthers Coach Teresa Hobbs. “The game never went to that half-court style. We pressed them a lot.”

As for the Lady Tigers, part of their post package, Kara Davis, had been out sick. The team had also been off during the week for finals. The loss must have triggered something in them, though. Saturday evening, Fayette County took on LaGrange and won 64-54. Kara Davis and Christine Pritchett combined for 43 points in the win, with Megan Byrd, Fayette County's other post player, adding seven points.

“We shot over 50 percent from the field,” said Lady Tigers Coach Gene Mustain. “Davis and Pritchett have been playing great all year and Anne Hancock has really stepped up her play as well.”

The Lady Panthers are not playing in a holiday tournament and will swing back into action Jan. 4 when they travel to Eagle's Landing. The Lady Tigers will participate in the Battle of the Borders tournament in LaGrange. They will meet Lanett, Ala. Dec. 28 in the Callaway Center at LaGrange College.

In the boys' game between Starr's Mill and Fayette County, the game was reminiscent of the Panthers' game against McIntosh. It took three overtime periods to determine a winner and again the Panthers found themselves on the losing side.

Starr's Mill led 15-14 after the first quarter, but Fayette County out-scored them 17-8 in the second, to lead 31-23 at the half. The Tigers held a seven-point lead going into the fourth quarter, but then Starr's Mill exploded. The Panthers went on a 16-9 run to tie the game and force overtime. Both teams had chances to put the other away during the three periods of overtime, but the Panthers made a critical turnover with 11 seconds left in the third overtime and eventually lost 85-81.

The Tigers were led by William Moore, who scored 31 points in the win. Moore connected on 15 of his 16 foul shots. Rodney Plair added 19 points and Andrew Doggendorf netted 10. Brandon Alexander led the Panthers in scoring with 24 points. Dane Davenport scored 22 and Donny Lampen added 17, but the Panthers came up short.

Fayette County will play in a holiday tournament in Virginia at Virginia Commonwealth University, while Starr's Mill is playing in the Gold City Shootout at North Georgia College in Dahlonega. In its first game, Starr's Mill hammered Lumpkin County, 86-46.

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