Featured photo by Douglas Blow
The Minden Crimson Tide battled back from a slow start but couldn’t complete the rally in a 54-46 loss to the Airline Vikings Tuesday night at Airline.
Elsewhere, North Webster fell to North Caddo 57-49 in Springhill.
At Airline, Minden trailed 27-10 with about five minutes left in the first half. The Crimson Tide then closed the second quarter with a 12-2 run and were within 29-22 at the half.
Neither team did much offensively in the third quarter. Trailing 41-25, Minden had a chance to cut the lead to four but missed a pair of free throws.
The Vikings quickly went up be eight and led 37-28 going into the fourth. Airline led by as many as 11 early in the final period.
The Tide got within six with just less than a minute to play but could get no closer.
Free throws were a big factor in the game. The Tide made just 8 of 17.
Airline’s Tre’Von Jackson made 12-of-12 and the Vikings were 20-of-31.
Minden also had a difficult time getting shots to fall at close range.
Darnell Morris and Jekoye Knowles led Minden with 14 and 13 points, respectively.
Cameron Parker had 10.
Jackson led Airline (5-3), which has won four in a row, with 18 points. Kevin White Jr. had 16.
Minden (5-2), which had a four-game winning streak snapped, hosts Haughton Friday.
At North Webster, the Knights dropped to 1-3. North Webster visits Plain Dealing Thursday.