Demopolis High School’s basketball teams went to John Essex on Thursday night to take on the Hornets.

In the boys’ game, Roderick Davis went for 25 points to lead the Tigers to a 68-57 win over John Essex.

Demopolis led from tip to buzzer, Davis and Tommy Wilson shooting the lights out throughout the game. In the first quarter, Davis and Wilson finished with nine points and eight points, respectively, and the Tigers led 21-6 heading into the second quarter.

John Essex found their groove in the second quarter, but Demopolis kept scoring and kept their 15-point lead going into the half, 44-29.

In the third quarter, most of the Tigers struggled to find the bottom of the basket, but Davis kept the Tigers going by scoring 10 of the Tigers’ 12 points in the quarter to take a 56-45 lead into the final quarter.

John Essex cut the lead to single digits once in the fourth, but Demopolis kept the lead around 10, and came away with the 11-point win.

Head coach Rodney Jackson said poor execution hurt his team during the game.

“We didn’t execute very well at all,” he said. “I’m glad we shot well or we could have been in trouble. I’m trying to get seven or eight guys to buy into what I’m selling, but right now, I’ve only got four.”

Jackson said Davis has been his leader lately.

“He has been unreal lately,” he said. “Him and Tommy (Wilson) are our go-to guys. They’re both playing very well, and I hope that continues going into the area tournament.”

Wilson finished 19 points while Tyler Perkins had 8 to go along with Davis’ 25.

The win brings the Tigers to 11-11 overall.

In the girls’ game, the Lady Tigers led throughout the game, and the game was never in doubt. Demopolis won the game 45-23 over the Hornets.

Jonniece Collins led the Lady Tigers with 13 points in a game in which a lot of players got minutes.

Head coach Tony Pittman brought some players from the eighth-grade team at Demopolis Middle School, and allowed them to play most of the fourth quarter.

“We got a lot of girls some playing time tonight,” he said. “I brought some eighth-graders to get them some varsity minutes, and I am very pleased with that. We took this game to work on some things and get back to what we do. I’m hoping this carries over from tonight to tomorrow against Greenville.”

The win puts the Lady Tigers at 13-6 on the season.

Demopolis welcomes area opponent Greenville to town Friday night in the final area contest of the regular season.