TUPELO – Starkville’s Edward Townsel struggled during the opening eight minutes of Tuesday’s game against South Panola.

He owned the final 24.

The senior guard scored 17 second-quarter points and finished with a game-high 31 points to lead the Yellowjackets to an 80-46 win against South Panola in the Division 2-6A tournament at Tupelo High gym.

Starkville will play Columbus, a 62-59 winner against host Tupelo, at 8 p.m. Friday in the championship game.

In the girls’ championship game at 6, top-seeded South Panola plays Starkville, which rallied from a 14-point deficit in the second half to beat Tupelo, 75-66. The Lady Tigers edged Columbus, 56-52.

Townsel connected on five 3-pointers, three of them in the second period to help Starkville break open a close game.

“He scored three points (against Tupelo) the last time he played here,” Starkville coach Greg Carter said. “He was pressing tonight when the game started. I took him out.

“When he went back in, he was lights out. He made some tough shots look easy.”

Starkville got 19 points from preseason all-state selection and Southern Miss-bound Rashad Perkins.

Antonio Jones scored 18 points to lead South Panola.

(B) Columbus 62, Tupelo 59

The Falcons took a 15-point halftime lead then held on in the second half to end the Golden Wave’s season.

Herman Roberts scored 17 points, Akeem Toppin 16 and Bobby Wrench 15 to pace Columbus.

Deontaye Ewing led Tupelo with 16 points while Jeremy Foster added 14.

The Golden Wave (19-9) battled back to tie the score at 55-55 with 3 minutes, 4 seconds remaining on a runner in the lane by Devontaye Morris.

Down 60-59, Tupelo had possession with 13 seconds left when Chris Brooks was called for a charge on a drive.

Columbus connected on two late free throws to seal it.

(G) Starkville 75, Tupelo 66

The Lady Wave raced to a 43-29 lead early in the third period only to see Starkville answer with a 23-2 run to head into the final period leading 52-45.

Kala Williams scored 24 points and Johniece Moore added 20 to lead the Lady Jackets, who outscored the Wave 48-31 in the second half.

For Tupelo (18-9), Kari Copeland scored 14, Amber Jackson 12 and Faith Cook 10.

(G) So. Panola 56, Columbus 52

Chasity Kearney scored 24 points to lead the Lady Tigers into the finals.