CLARKSDALE – Thursday night’s games with Arkansas Baptist College of Little Rock were re-runs of Coahoma’s hometown season opener and losing scrapes to East Central Community College on Nov. 9.

After leading the Lady Buffaloes in a rough, physical street-fight-of-a- game, the CCC Lady Tigers dropped intensity and lost 79-67 in the final minutes.

Following a similar storyline, the Tigers opened fire with four triples – a pair by Donteeno Todd and two more by JaMarquis Lewis and Se’Marcio Bailey to go out front by 10 points, but closed losing by a near miss 75-73.

Reviewing the men’s game from the stands, retired veteran basketball coach Isaiah Peterson, comments, “In close games like this, mistakes usually are the reason for a loss.”

In the early game, the Little Rock women nailed a couple of treys to open the dual and continually pressured the Lady Tigers who had trouble in-bounding the ball.

Despite battling formidable 6-foot Porsha Donnerson, who scored 29 points overall, CCC matched their ferocity, and went out front 15-14 with a goal by Jonnetta Robinson with 13 minutes remaining in the first half.

Lisa de Ruijter, Coahoma’s international import from Holland, demonstrated her ball-handling skills while racing down court for a score boosting CCC’s total to 31 points over 25 for Arkansas.

With sharp-shooting by Malea Malone, Kyla Winford, and Eureka Nunnally who scored 15 points in the first half, and rebounding by Jasmine Walker and Nakita Kimble, the Lady Tigers went up 46-36 and led 46-38 at haftime.

Both sides returned to the floor on a sluggish pace, but Arkansas tied the game at 52, and the lead seesawed until the Lady Buffaloes went out front 59-58 with 7:36 remaining, and stayed ahead.

Leading the scoring for Coahoma was Nunnally with 23 points; Malone with 14; Winford with 10; de Ruijter, 7; Walker, 5; and Kimble and Sherra Payno with 2 each.

Donnerson with 29 points led the Lady Buffaloes followed by Ashley Gardner with 17; Jalesa Williams with 16; Simone Young with 10; Lashonda West, 3; Jalisa Montgomery and Mercedes Gaines, 2 each.

The second game’s opening pace was a blowout with Coahoma in charge with a 10 point lead and CCC’s new big guy Kelvin Miller scoring and dominating the boards despite three Arkansas giant wide-bodies – Clint Williams, Durell Holloway, and Tevares Harris alternating in and out of the game.

At halftime, the Tigers were on top 48-36.

Miller blocked a Williams shot, sank a bucket of his own, followed by more scoring by Tony Payne, Khiry Glenn, and a triple by Lewis with 5:16 remaining and CCC ahead 69-62.

Responding with a slam and a trey, the Buffaloes reduced their deficit 69-67 when Payne sank two points for a CCC 71-67 lead with 3 minutes remaining.

Coahoma remained out front 73-71 with 1:30 on the clock when Arkansas tied with 47.2 seconds left.

Timing a shot for the final tick, the Tiger attempt failed, but Arkansas did not.

Leading the scoring for Coahoma was Kelvin Miller with 19 points; Tony Payne with 16 points; JaMarquis Lewis with 13; Donteeno Todd with 8; Khiry Glenn and Turio Tumblin and Se’Marcio Bailey with 5 each; and Roddick Brown, 2.

Top scorer for Arkansas Baptist was James Scott with 25 points followed by Jared Williamson with 15; Clint Williams with 11; Tyrell Coleman, 9; Neco Long and Tevares Haris, 4 each; Jimmy Fleming, 3; and Lord Hall and Dunell Holloway, 2 each.