The Whitewater boys basketball team opened the 2005-06 basketball season last weekend with two wins. The Wildcats defeated Haralson County 66-60 and followed it with a 70-36 win over Our Lady of Mercy on Saturday.

In a packed gym on Friday night, Whitewater responded well to an incredible atmosphere. The two teams battled closely all night, with neither team able to create much breathing room from their opponents until Whitewater hit three big three pointers in the fourth quarter and started to inch away. Vincent Webb, J. T. Martin and Jay Bright all had a three pointer in the fourth and Whitewater hung on for the win. Stephen Sargent finished with 21 points, 10 rebounds and eight blocks, while Bright finished with 15 and point guard Kevin Lewallen did a good job of setting up the offense.

Whitewater was fired up from the start on Saturday and opened up an 18-4 lead over Our Lady of Mercy to start the game. Grant Mannion led the team in scoring with 16 points, while Sargent chipped in 11 and Bright added six points and eight assists.

On the girls side, the Lady Wildcats lost to Haralson County 75-48 and defeated Our Lady of Mercy 58-44. Whitewater was close to Haralson County in the first quarter but Haralson was able to get the ball inside more in the second quarter and built a 24 point lead in the second half. Whitewater cut the lead to eight but faded towards the end in a very physical game. Courtney Walker led the team with 12 points.

Against Our Lady of Mercy, Whitewater was able to use their athleticism and picked up the win. Walker led the team in scoring with 21 points.

Starr’s Mill’s boys and girls defeated Eagle’s Landing on Saturday. The Lady Panthers won 41-35. Kirstin Massmann led the team with 11 points and six rebounds, while Katie Jacobsen and Alexis Shaffer added seven. The boys game went to double overtime and the Panthers won 74-66. Starr’s Mill is coached by Dave Edinger, the former coach at Eagle’s Landing, and the win over his former team gave him his 360th career win. The two teams battled back and forth and Eagle’s Landing had a five point edge in the first overtime before Starr’s Mill rallied to tie it at the buzzer. The Panthers then hit four three pointers in the second overtime to give them a lead and the win.

Mark Harris had 28 points, nine of which came off three pointers, and 11 rebounds, while Bo Tiller, who played with a touch of the flu, added 16 points and 11 rebounds. Justin Reed chipped in 13 points and five assists.

Starr’s Mill will play at Pope on Saturday.

McIntosh’s boys and girls fell to their county rivals the Fayette County Tigers. The boys lost 54-50 and one of the main reasons the Chiefs fell was due to poor foul shooting. Fayette County jumped out to an early 18-6 lead but McIntosh battled back to take a 2 point lead at the half. Their lead increased to 10 points in the third quarter but the Tigers outscored the Chiefs 15-5 in the fourth and held on for the win.

J.T. Piribek and Marcus Chisholm each finished with 10 points for McIntosh.

The Chiefs will play Whitewater at 4:30 on Friday.

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