Messenger file photo by Gary Wells
By Cole Frederick/Sports Correspondent
The Hokes Bluff’s girls basketball team evened the season series against Southside after the Lady Eagles knocked off the Lady Panthers, 49-34, on Thursday at HBHS. The Lady Panthers (2-4) won the previous meeting 35-32, but Hokes Bluff turned a seven-point halftime lead into a 15-point advantage after the third quarter. Jayden Presley scored a game-high 11 points for the Lady Eagles (4-4), while Kristen Shields (pictured above) added nine. Maddie Smith and Madison Wolfe chipped in eight and seven points, respectively, for Hokes Bluff. Ziniah Hardy scored 10 points for the Lady Panthers, while Savannah Nunn chipped in eight. Southside was without center Macie Williams, who sat out with an injury.