PLANTERSVILLE — After an explosive third quarter, the Southside Lady Panthers had to hold off a late push in Thursday’s 51-42 win against the Dallas County Lady Hornets.

Jason Bothwell, head girls basketball coach of Southside (8-14, 2-4), said the Lady Panthers relied heavily on their defense in Thursday’s win.

“We just played simple defense — disciplined, simple defense. We can get to a point where we play so aggressive sometimes that we lose our assignments, but we were just able to come out in the beginning of the third quarter and just play assignment, savvy defense,” Bothwell said, “and we are able to get some good looks and some good layups in transition.”

After holding a narrow, 24-20 lead over the Lady Hornets (10-13, 5-2) at halftime, Southside opened the game up in the third, outscoring Dallas County 16-5 in a quarter that included six points each by Ki’Onna Likely and Calvondrea Blackmon to help the Lady Panthers go into the fourth leading 40-25.

But the Lady Hornets opened the final quarter strong, as De’Undria Boggs scored a pair of baskets in the paint, and Tieara Chandler buried a 3-pointer to make the score 40-32 with 6:09 left to play.

Southside’s Sharmynn Anderson scored to stop the run, but Boggs scored on back-to-back possessions to make it 42-36 with 4:23 left.

Southside’s Tanisha Blevins hit layup off an assist by Blackmon, and added a free throw to make it 45-36 with 3:34 left.

Chandler added a pair of free throws and Boggs hit another basket to counter a shot from Southside’s Yasmine Mixon, as Dallas County cut the Lady Panthers’ lead to 47-40 with 2:27 left, but the Lady Hornets’ next basket came with only 15 seconds left in the game.

Charles Thompson, head girls basketball coach of Dallas County, said his team was hurt by key mistakes, but played well overall.

“We made some costly turnovers and they capitalized off of them. Down that stretch, we kind of got outrebounded, and when it comes to closing a game and finishing a game, those are the kind of things that can cost you,” Thompson said. “I give coach Bothwell and his Lady Panthers all the credit in the world. They did a great job. Overall, I think we played a pretty decent game, but it just wasn’t good enough to win it.”

Blevins led Southside with 13 points, while Ashley Cunningham and Likely each had 10 points for the Lady Panthers.

Boggs led the Lady Hornets with 29 points.

Southside will take the floor again Friday at home against Central Hayneville at 5 p.m., while Dallas County will play again at home on Saturday against Gordo starting at 5 p.m.