Tuesday night was a groundbreaking game for the Poplarville Hornets. The team won by the widest margin this season, and scored the most points in a single game, defeating the Sumrall Bobcats 68-48.

After scrambling through a five-game stretch of narrow margin matchups, the Hornets (11-8; 3-2) found a groove Tuesday night during the beginning of the second half.

“That was a fun game for everyone,” Poplarville Head Coach Chareck Cable said. “All of the players on the team that work endlessly in practice day in and day out got to see some time, and the whole team was excited for that. It was just a great atmosphere to be in.”

The teams were tied at halftime 26-26, but when they started the third period, the Hornets seemed rejuvenated as they went on a 16-2 run in the first four minutes.

“I told the guys in the locker room that we all have to step up, including the bench. We aren’t going to get where we want to be with just five players. Our whole team needs to play well and they showed that in the second half,” Cable said.

Richard Patton came off the bench for the Hornets to lead the team with 17 points and eight rebounds.

In the final three quarters of the game, when Sumrall (4-13; 0-5) appeared to initiate a potential comeback, Hornets Cannan Ray seemed to find open space around the perimeter, sinking multiple 3-pointers that would knock Sumrall back a notch, protecting Poplarville’s lead. Ray ended with four 3-pointers and a total of 14 points.

Two of Ray’s 3-pointers came in the heavy-scoring third quarter when the Hornets dropped 21 points. After that, the Bobcats cut the Hornets’ lead to nine points, but couldn’t stop the home team’s offense when Poplarville outscored Sumrall 20 to 8 in the fourth quarter. Tamiljah Merrill finished the game with 13 points, five rebounds and three assists. Teammate Tyler Griffin collected 12 points, six rebounds and three assists.

Dannis Jackson led the Bobcats with 21 points.

The 4A Region 7 third-ranked Poplarville Hornets will face Greene County on Friday. Tip-off will be at 7:30 p.m. at Poplarville.

Lady Hornets scurry for a victory over Sumrall, 48-46

Poplarville’s Lady Hornets began the fourth quarter with the largest lead of the night, a 42-33 cushion with 5:26 to go. However, Poplarville (14-5; 5-0) only scored three points in the next four minutes as the Lady Bobcats went on a 12-3 run to tie the game at 45 points with 32.3 seconds remaining.

“We started to slack on defense, which put us in a bad situation in the final minutes,” Poplarville Head Coach Dee Robinson said.

“If they believe they are the best team, then play like it,” Robinson said during a fourth quarter timeout. “We need to execute until the clock says zero.”

With the game tied, Lady Bobcats Lakelyn Bohannon took a trip to the free throw line, making one of two attempts to give Sumrall a 46-45 lead.

Once Poplarville took control of the ball, Lady Hornets Jasmine Merrill was fouled while shooting with 24.9 seconds to go. Merrill knocked both free throws through the net to give her team a 47-46 lead.

Then Merrill would make a huge play on defense, stealing the ball and drawing a foul in the process, going to the charity line with 6.5 seconds on the clock.

After missing her first attempt, Merrill drilled the second free throw, giving the Lady Hornets a two-point lead, 48-46. On the final possession of the game, the Lady Bobcats attempted to transition the ball down the court, but failed to get a shot off as time expired.

The Lady Hornets will travel to Greene County (15-7; 4-2) on Friday to keep a goose egg in the team’s district loss column. Tip-off is at 6 p.m.