There are a lot of reasons why at least one college coach was in the bleachers Monday at Columbus Christian Academy to watch Winona Christian’s Bella Roberts. 

The West Lowndes High School girls basketball team learned a lot of them by playing against her.

Roberts was outstanding, scoring more than half of her team’s points in the Stars’ 50-46 win over the Panthers.

Roberts hit three 3-pointers, drove the lane successfully and hit 6 free throws, finishing with 31 points for Winona Christian. But the Stars never could quite shake the Panthers.

In fact, the Panthers led 9-8 after the first quarter after Destiny Robertson and Alya Moseley hit back-to-back baskets to end the period. And as Roberts was scoring 10 second-quarter points to try and give Winona Christian a cushion, Camara Brewer was scoring 8 points to try and keep West Lowndes close.

The Stars took a 29-23 lead into halftime.

The Panthers pulled within one on a 3-pointer by Robertson 3 minutes into the third, but the Stars answered with Roberts driving for one basket and racing in after a steal for another. She finished with 11 points in the period to help the Stars seize a 42-33 lead.

Again, the Panthers made it close. On defense, they held the Stars scoreless for the first 3 minutes of the fourth while Titeyana Brewer opened the fourth quarter scoring with a 3-pointer followed by a fastbreak layup by Kadasha Hairston. That made ir 42-38 with 5:11 left.

But 6 of the next 8 points were scored by Winona Christian, and Roberts’ final basket, at the 2:33 mark, gave the Stars a 50-42 lead. Two baskets by Camara Brewer accounted for the final score.

Camara Brewer led the way for the Panthers with 19 points, and Robertson chipped in 11.

West Lowndes will be back at Columbus Christian on Tuesday to face Winston at 11:15 a.m. and on Wednesday to meet Central Hinds at 12:30 p.m.

Boys basketball

West Lowndes 76, Amory 39: Cameron Ellis connected on six 3-pointers and scored 23 points to lead the Panthers in the Columbus Christian Academy Christmas Tournament.

Jamarveion Seals totaled 16 points and Decamby Willis scored 13 for the Panthers (4-9), who finished with 11 3-pointers.

Michael Spotts scored 14 points for Amory (6-7).

Winona Christian 47, West Lowndes 44: Jadarious Sims was the only Panther in double figures during their loss to the Stars, scoring 8 points during the fourth quarter and finishing with 10.

The Panthers have three more games to play in the tournament, facing Kemper at 12:30 p.m. Tuesday, Oak Hill at 2 p.m. Tuesday and Central Hinds at 11:15 a.m. Wednesday.