DEMOPOLIS &045; An almost new team was presented by the John Essex Hornets this past Friday, and the new members made a difference in John Essex’ 68-38 win over the Isabella Mustangs.

The Hornets jumped ahead early, pulling to an 18-9 first quarter advantage, including two three-pointers by Jack Rainey. Isabella came storming back in the second quarter by putting up 22 points to tie the game at 29 at the half.

The defense for John Essex came to life in the third quarter, shutting down the Mustangs to only three points. On the offensive side the Hornets netted 19 points to build a 48-32 third quarter lead. Isabella was all but out of gas by the fourth quarter, as the refreshed John Essex team out scored them 20-6 in the final eight minutes of the game.

Rainey finished with 16 points. Sentell Johnson contributed 12 points and Preston Parker added 10 points.

Lady Hornets get easy win, 45-17

A 21-point second quarter proved to be the difference in the John Essex Lady Hornets taming of the Isabella Lady Mustangs, 45-17.

John Essex struggled to score in the first quarter of play, scoring just five points giving Isabella a two-point lead after one quarter. Junior Maria Daniels led the way in the second quarter, dropping in 10 of the Lady Hornets 21 points. They only allowed Isabella two points and took a 26-9 lead into the locker room at half time.

The third quarter didn’t get any better for the visiting Lady Mustangs, as they did not score a point in the quarter. The Lady Hornets in the mean time built the score by more than thirty points, posting 17 points in the quarter to put the game away. John Essex led 43-9 after three quarters of play.

Daniels led all scorers with 20 points. Keaundra Bennet added 10 points for the Lady Hornets.