The Starkville Academy Volunteers outscored Pillow Academy 18-12 in the fourth period to rally for a 52-51 victory Tuesday night at Pillow.
The Mustangs led 39-34 at the end of the third period but were unable to make that lead stick. Vol center Jonathan McKenzie powered his way to a team-high 25 points to help Starkville (16-9) complete the comeback.
The Lady Mustangs didn't play their best and had their hands full, but senior Stella Malouf turned in an all-around top performance to help the Lady Mustangs to a 50-46 win.
Malouf poured in 24 points to go with five steals, three assists and three redounds.
In the boys' game, Taylor Young scored Pillow's final five points of the first half to cut Starkville's lead to 23-19 at the half.
The Mustangs scored the first six points of the third period to take a one-point lead on baskets by Garrison Barger, Matthew Waldrop and Reed Cook.
The loss drops the Mustangs to 10-9 overall, 5-4 in the North AAA conference standings.
Young paced PA with 20 points, followed by Cook with 10 and Barger with eight.
In the girls' game, Starkville led 14-12 at the end of the first period and 25-23 at the half. Pillow, 19-4 and ranked No. 4 in the statewide academy AAA poll, held a 35-33 advantage after three periods of play.
The Lady Mustangs opened a quick five-point lead in the fourth on a 3-pointer from Kaitlin McDaniel. However, Starkville regained the lead, 39-38, on a bucket by Tiffany Huddleston.
Then Malouf came up with a three-point play with four minutes left, followed by a steal and layup off the ensuing inbounds play.
A couple of minutes later, Malouf broke a 43-43 tie with a pair of free throws, and sophomore Holly Ann Pannell scored four of her six points in the final minute and a half to help Pillow hold off Starkville.
Pannell finished with a team-high seven rebounds and dished out two assists.
Carolyn Wellborn had five points and six rebounds, while Spencer Leflore added five points and five rebounds.
In junior high action, the PA girls improved to 13-0 with a 50-22 rout of Starkville.
Sage Greenlee had 12 points, followed by Kristen Stephens with 11.
The PA ninth-grade boys got 16 points from Ty Craig en route to a 42-34 win. Gaston Lyon had 14.
Pillow improves to 9-3 overall, 6-3 in league play.
Pillow hosts Oak Hill Friday night and Jackson Prep Saturday.
