MAGNOLIA – On Friday night, Brookhaven closed out anexcruciating 4-game road trip with the final stop in Pike County.The Lincoln Countians made a clean sweep of their South Pikeneighbors, in a ldesignated non-division affair.

The Lady Panthers jumped out to a 14-3 lead after the opening 8minutes of play. Brookhaven head coach Ronald Gill and assistantTerri Hall saw their ballclub fight off a very stubborn South PikeLady Eagle team 49-46, at the South Pike Coliseum.

The Panthers got a team-high 16 points from senior forwardMaurice Brown as Brookhaven etched out a 65-55 victory over theSouth Pike Eagles.

The designated division contest will be Jan. 23, atBrookhaven.

Brookhaven defeated South Pike 59-38 in the preliminary JV boysgame.

Brookhaven returns to the friendly confines of James A. SinclairGymnasium on Monday. Hinds AHS comes calling for 3 games. A JV boysgame tips off at 5 p.m. The varsity girls game is slated to beginat 6, followed by the varsity boys game at 7:30.

The Lady Panthers (9-6) used their superior height advantage totake the early 11-point lead, 14-3, heading into the second period.Brookhaven held the Lady Eagles to only 3 free throws in theperiod.

South Pike, coached by Joe Leavy, rallied in the second. ErihaHolloway scored 9 of her game-high 20 points during this stretch.The Lady Eagles had cut their deficit to 5 points, 27-22 at theintermission.

Leavy also serves as the boys head coach at South Pike.

Both teams were at a virtual standstill in the third, butBrookhaven still held a 33-29 advantage, heading into the finalstanza.

Brookhaven used its height to keep South Pike off the boardsthroughout the game. Senior forward Nikki Blakely had 10 points inthe period, as the Lady Panthers extended their season long winningstreak to 4 games, despite committing a season-high 38turnovers.

Blakely paced Brookhaven with 16 points. Julianna Wallaceprovided 10 points, 14 rebounds, 4 assists and 3 steals. AneidraStanton added 10 points. Ayana Tillman had 10 rebounds and 8blocked shots.

The Panthers (13-3) got out of the starting gates at a torridpace, jetting to a 22-9 lead at the end of the first quarter. SevenBrookhaven players scored for head coach Preston Wilson andassistant Dan Presley. Senior guard Matt Fitzsimmons led thePanther charge, scoring 8 of his 9 points in the quarter.

A balanced scoring attack seemed to be the theme of the night.The Panthers took a 38-27 cushion into the halftime lockerroom.

Leavy saw his ballclub make a third period run. South Piketrailed by 4 points, 46-42 entering the fourth quarter. Seniorguard Cavadas Nunnery torched the Panther defense for 11 pointsduring the run.

Nunnery led all scorers with 24 points.

Panther senior point guard Dontae Dixon scored all 9 of hispoints in the period as the Eagles tried to play catch up. Dixonwas a perfect 7-for-7 from the charity stripe in the final 8minutes.

Lending support for Brookhaven was center Corey Bryant with 11points, followed by Fred Mackabee with 10.

In the JV boys game, Brandon Caston and Lamar Hall pumped in 10points apiece for Brookhaven.