The Shelby County Youth Basketball League recently wrapped up its 2012 spring season, with a pair of Tenaha teams capturing the 5th-and-6th Grade divisions, while Center squads took the other age groups.

In the 5th-and-6th Grade Boys Division, the Tenaha Heat, coached by Desmond Steadman, took top honors, followed by the Center Spurs (Joseph Mitchell) coming in second, with the Center Clippers (William Nash) placing third and the Timpson Thunder (Charleston Johnson) placing fourth.

The battle for the second and third playoff spots in District 18-3A continues to appear as if it's coming down to the wire. With the Diboll Ladyjacks having already sewn up the league title, Huntington, Central, Hudson and Center are exchanging blows like heavyweight fighters as they try to secure one of the two remaining postseason bids.

Center could have taken a big step toward doing that on Friday, but came up short on the road against Huntington, falling 54-37.

The drive for a playoff spot in District 18-3A hasn't been an easy one for the Center Lady Riders. On Friday night they dropped a 59-56 decision on the road to Hudson, falling back to 2-6 against league competition.

"We played well, it was just that we had some breaks go against us," Center head coach Tracy Kincade said of the loss to the Lady Hornets. "We are really going to be good in the future because the girls are busting their tails to get better."

Lady Rider Lacie Evans produced a double-double Friday night, scoring 10 points and pulling down 10 boards as she helped the Center Lady Riders keep their postseason hopes alive with a 42-37 victory over Jasper in Roughrider Gymnasium.

Lakia Shepherd was also a key player for Center, which improved to 11-9 on the year and 2-4 against District 18-3A competition. The senior guard led all scorers with 18 points, pulling down five rebounds and picking up three steals.