By Chris Wasson | Special to the Advertiser

Dallas County High School started slowly to begin both halves, but gathered strength when the game went on in route to a 52-30 win over Jemison Thursday in the Class 4A, Area 6 girls basketball tournament at Southside-Selma High School.

Both Thorsby teams also lost Thursday, playing in their respective Class 2A, Area 7 tournaments at Francis Marion High School.

The THS girls lost, 53-31, to Marion despite Sharonda Cooper’s 11 points and Amanda Hubbard’s nine points; and the Thorsby boys lost, 72-30, to R.C. Hatch.

In the Jemison game, the two teams started pretty evenly matched, and the Panthers even jumped out to a 10-4 lead before Dallas County came back to end the quarter tied at 12.

It was in the second quarter that the Hornets got going and pulled out to a 24-15 lead on the strength of their press defense, which forced turnovers leading to easy points.

“We just weren’t able to answer in the second quarter,” Jemison coach Stacy McGehee said. “Between that and missed opportunities in the third quarter, we fell behind and their team speed took over from there.”

McGehee said it was the Hornets’ aggressive defense that seemed to cause his squad problems but was proud of how his side fought back.

“We just couldn’t keep up with them,” McGehee said. “But we had a great season. I’m proud of the work this team put in this year, especially my seniors. They had a great run, it’s just sad to see it end.”

–Assistant managing editor Stephen Dawkins contributed to this report.