PINEHURST — Tiftarea Academy split its basketball regular season debuts Nov. 19 at Fullington Academy. The Panthers drilled Fullington, 75-45, with the Lady Panthers falling by a 57-28 score.

Tiftarea’s next games will be Dec. 3 at home against Citizens Christian. They will also be home Dec. 5 against Southwest Georgia Academy and Dec. 6 against Georgia Christian.

Even without its football players, Tiftarea’s boys were in command from the start. They had a 29-10 lead after one frame and were up 40-26 at intermission.

Elijah Smith and Ben Smith combined for 47 of the Panthers’ 75 points. Elijah scored 11 in the first eight minutes, then 14 in the second half. Ben Smith’s scoring was more balanced, with at least three in every quarter.

When Fullington closed the deficit to 12 points late in the second quarter, Tiftarea responded with a 20-5 run that lasted into the third.

The young Lady Panthers got off on the wrong foot against Fullington, down 21-2 at the end of the first. They played much more evenly in the second, down 36-13 at the break.

Kate Coogle had six first half points. She initially got the team on the board by beating the press, then scored twice from a post position in the second.

Long shots became the Lady Panthers’ forte. Makenna Graham hit the first long ball in the second. Madi Shoultz added two more later.

Tiftarea outscored Fullington 9-0 in the fourth quarter.

Madi Shoultz finished at eight points, with Phillips at six, Graham at five and Maci Shoultz with four.