A slow start was too much for the host Lady Jaguars of New Manchester to overcome as they fell 34-31 to visiting Pope Friday night. In the boys’ game, the Greyhounds pulled away late in a 56-43 victory over New Manchester.

The Lady Jags suffered through a 17-minute drought where they couldn’t make a shot from the field. With 4:57 left in the opening quarter, New Manchester evened the score at 4-4 and didn’t make another shot from the field until Anthonia Nduruo’s jumper from the right side of the basket with 4:01 left in the third period cut the deficit to 20-10.

Pope broke the tie and scored the final nine points of the quarter as they led 13-4 at the first intermission.

Allowing only two points off free throws in the second quarter, Camille Hunter’s four points paced the Lady Greyhounds as they led 20-6 at halftime.

In the third quarter, the Lady Jags started their comeback. Playing stout defense and connecting on their free throw attempts, NMHS cut the deficit to 25-20 after three quarters.

New Manchester was able to pull within two, 33-31, on a Taiylar Hibbard jumper with 5.1 seconds to play but couldn’t score again in the loss.

The host team was led by Shyanne Banks’ 12 points. Pope’s Keirra Henry finish the game with eight points, including four in the first quarter, to lead the balanced Lady Greyhound attack.

In the boys’ game, the Jags and Greyhounds traded buckets for most of the first half. After the first quarter, New Manchester trailed 13-8 thanks to a late push by Pope.

In the second quarter, Pope held on to the lead behind seven points from Chase Hutchins as the Jags trailed 23-19 at halftime.

Nashon Dortch scored five points for the Jaguars during the third quarter but Pope’s Hutchins and Andrew Mendel both had five of their own as the Greyhounds started to pull away. With eight minutes to play, Pope led 37-30.

New Manchster couldn’t challenge again as Pope went on to lead by 20 points, 56-36, before it brought in their subs.

Keymont Jenkins led the Jags with 11 points with Tre Sledge battling foul trouble all game, scoring eight points before he fouled out.

Hutchins came alive in the second half, scoring four points in the third and nine points in the final period as he finished the game with 24 Andrew Mendel hit a pair of three points as he was the second leading scorer for Pope with eight.

New Manchester plays again today when they host Hapeville Christian.