The Parkway Panthers and Bossier Bearkats both won in impressive fashion Tuesday night in boys high school basketball action.
The Panthers defeated the Benton Tigers 66-50 at Benton. The Bearkats handed the Byrd Yellow Jackets their first loss of the season, 87-65, at Bossier.
Elsewhere, the Airline Vikings dropped a close 66-63 decision to the Natchitoches Central Chiefs in Natchitoches, Haughton fell to North Desoto 51-42 in Stonewall and Louisiana New Tech at Plain Dealing lost to Arcadia 65-53 in Arcadia.
Parkway coach Michael Guess said his team has been improving and it definitely looked that way against Benton.
The Panthers (3-4), who won their second straight game, used full-court pressure defense to force numerous turnovers en route to a 20-7 first-quarter lead.
Parkway kept the pressure on throughout the game and led by as much as 30 in the third quarter.
Chris Yates scored 11 of his game-high 17 points in the third quarter. Keondre Wudtee added 16 points and Brodrick Jefferson had 15.
D.J. Bratten led Benton (4-5) with 12 points, and LeeAaron Alexander had nine.
At Bossier, the Bearkats jumped on the Yellow Jackets early en route to a 26-10 first-quarter lead.
The Jackets, who dropped to 9-1, never made a run at the Bearkats (7-2), who won their fourth straight.
Devonte Hall led Bossier with 20 points. Tevin Robertson returned from a three-game suspension and scored 19 points.
Rashard Owens chipped in with 15 points, and Deorvion Robinson had 11.
At Natchitoches, the Vikings gave the Chiefs (7-2) a scare before falling.
“I’m proud of the way we competed tonight,” Airline coach Chris White said. “If we continue to compete like this we’ll be in every game.”
The Vikings are still without All-Parish guard Hayden Hildebrand, who underwent knee surgery two weeks ago.
White said he hopes Hildebrand will be back by the Doc Edwards Invitational, which begins Dec. 26.
Demetrius Early helped keep Airline (2-6) in the game with 26 points.
Trey Turner and Andrew Latson added 16 points each.
At Stonewall, Tyler Grigsby scored 15 and Nakia Devereaux had 10 in Haughton’s loss.
Coach Brian St. Andre said the Bucs (5-5) missed too many shots underneath the basket.
At Arcadia, Cardarrious Ray had 13 points, Kaino Long 10 and Ja’Carlius Stromile nine in New Tech’s loss.
