In a frenetic, taut game, the Southside Panthers hosted Central Hayneville in a showdown of rivals.

The game was close throughout, but the difference came at the charity stripe.

Southside shot 8 of 15 from the line while Hayneville was nearly flawless down the stretch.

The Lions used their advantage at the line to take the 62-54 win.

Southside looked sharp through three quarters, but the Lions tried a new defensive alignment that proved successful down the stretch.

With a trapping 3-2 zone, the Lions were able to pressure the perimeter shooters for the Panthers.

The Lions advanced to 9-7 on the season with the win.

The Panthers fell to 4-8.

The Panthers’ offense did pretty well against a tough Central zone, but the Lions were able to match the Panthers bucket for bucket in the second half until Southside couldn’t keep pace.

Hayneville was led by the inside presence of Tremayne Moorer.

Moorer bruised the Panthers’ defense for 25 points, 10 rebounds and 3 steals.

Jermon Blackmon added 12 and 7 rebounds.

Terriyakis Gilliams added 7 points and 7 boards.

Travis Shine broke out and shined for the Panthers. He lit the Lions up for 15 points, 10 of which came in the second half.

Jeffrey Anderson scored 10 for the Panthers and grabbed 6 boards.

Eric Smith had 9, including a crowd-pleasing first half jam for the Panthers.

The zone defense kept sharp-shooting Jarmarcus Hardy in check, he finished with 5 points, but the littlest guy on the floor grabbed 5 rebounds as well.

The Panthers took control early scoring 14 in the first quarter and 13 in the second.

They led by 4 at the half.

The Lions scored the first two buckets of the second half and kept pace the rest of the way.

Torre Barlow scored 6 points in the fourth quarter to help spark the Lions to the win.

In the end, the Panthers scored 27 points in the first half and stayed consistent with 27 in the second half.

The Lions scored just 23 in the first, but exploded for 39 points in the second half.