FROM STAFF REPORTS

Xavier Lacey scored a game-high 24 points — 10 of them coming in the fourth quarter — as the Pelham High School boys’ basketball team celebrated its senior night Feb. 3 with a 59-53 home victory over Bibb County.

The Panthers (15-10) trailed 27-26 at halftime but used a 15-5 run the last 4:30 of the third quarter to take a 48-40 lead into the final period.

After Willie Simpson connected on a three-pointer to give Pelham a 36-35 lead midway through the third quarter, the Panthers never trailed again.  Pelham outscored the Choctaws, 22-13, in the third quarter.

The Choctaws (6-16) cut the margin to four (54-50) with 1:42 left in the game, but Lacey helped seal the win for Pelham with four of his 10 fourth-quarter points in the the final 45 seconds.

Lacey, the Panthers’ leading scorer at nearly 15 points per game, hit 11-of-16 field goals in the game and was 5-for-5 in the second half.  He also pulled down seven rebounds.

Pelham shot 59 percent (13-of-22) from the floor in the second half, outscoring Bibb County by a 33-26 margin.

The Choctaws (6-16) kept the game close with their rebounding as they finished with a 44-28 advantage on the boards, including a 23-7 margin on the offensive glass.

“I’m proud of our seniors and their effort,” said Pelham head coach Joel Floyd.  “This was a good win against a team that is playing very well right now.  At halftime, I told our guys, ‘they are outhustling us.’ They wanted rebounds more than we did.”

Willie Simpson added 11 points for the Panthers while Johnterio Goode led the way for Bibb with 12 points and eight rebounds.  Trey Hurst had eight rebounds for the Panthers.

GIRLS

The Pelham High School girls’ basketball team held Bibb County scoreless in the second quarter Feb. 3 en route to a 53-35 win.

Trailing 12-11 after one quarter, the Panthers outscored the visiting Choctaws, 10-0, in the second period to take a 21-12 lead into the locker room at halftime.

Sydney Days led Pelham (15-9) with 16 points, while Ashley Kate Kelper added 13.