JACKSON – Brookhaven seniors Nikki Blakely and Julianna Wallacecombined for 45 points to lead the Lady Panthers to a 73-60 winover the Wingfield Lady Falcons Tuesday night.

Wingfield took advantage of Brookhaven’s slow start to deliver a71-60 defeat of the Panthers in the varsity boys game.

Brookhaven will chart Division 6-4A waters Friday night when thePanthers and Lady Panthers travel to Monticello to take on LawrenceCounty. The JV boys game begins at 4:45 p.m., followed by thevarsity girls at 6. The varsity boys game is set for 7:30.

The Lady Panthers (6-6) broke from the starting gates slowly,trailing 17-14 at the end of the first quarter. Brookhaven foundthe range in the second, outscoring Wingfield 24-11 to take a 38-28lead at halftime.

“We rebounded pretty well,” said Lady Panther head coach RonaldGill following the game. “We cut down on turnovers.”

Gill was referring to the fact that Brookhaven committed aseason-low 9 turnovers.

The Lady Falcons made a run at the Lady Panthers in the third,cutting their deficit to 51-45 entering the final frame beforeBlakely and Wallace put an end to the Wingfield comeback. Blakelyscored 12 of her game-high 27 points in the quarter, while Wallacewas a force on the offensive boards.

Wallace provided 19 points and 14 rebounds, including 10 on theoffensive end, and 3 assists. Blakely added 15 rebounds with 9coming off the offensive glass and 4 steals. Shameka Gilmore alsocontributed for Brookhaven by pulling down 10 rebounds.

Nadia Phillips led Wingfield with 19 points.

Brookhaven’s boys (11-2) never had the lead in this game. ThePanthers started slowly and could not get their engines going.

“We just didn’t play well at all,” said Panther head coachPreston Wilson following the game.

Wingfield (9-3) led 16-10 after one period and 39-29 atintermission.

Turnovers and poor shot selection saw the Falcons take a13-point lead, 53-40 in the final stanza.

Panther senior center Corey Bryant pumped in 10 of his team-high20 points in the period but Brookhaven could not overcome the largedeficit.

Fred Mackabee provided 14 points. Dexter Middleton added 9points of the bench for the Panthers.

David Doty led Wingfield (9-3) with a game-high 26 points.