Loyd Star senior point guard Moncia Townsend made the big whenshe needed to Thursday night.

Townsend scored the game-winning basket with four seconds leftto play to give the visiting Loyd Star Lady Hornets a 55-53 winover the Brookhaven Lady Panthers in the semifinals of theBrookhaven/Coca-Cola Classic at Sinclair Gymnasium.

The win propels the Loyd Star girls into Saturday night’schampionship game beginning at 7 p.m. They will face the winner oftonight’s game between McComb and Crystal Springs.

Last night’s other games included the Hazlehurst Indians postinga 66-51 win over the Bogue Chitto Bobcats and the Hazlehurst girlseliminating Bogue Chitto 56-36.

In today’s games, the Loyd Star boys meet Bogue Chitto at 4p.m., the McComb girls battle Crystal Springs at 5:30 and the boysat 7 followed by the Brookhaven boys hosting Hazlehurst at8:30.

Loyd Star 55, Brookhaven 53

Brookhaven’s Ayana Tillman nailed a field goal that tiedthe game at 53-all with 40 seconds left to play. Loyd Star spreadthe ball around the floor before Townsend made the drive for thegame-winning layup.

“We were ragged,” said Loyd Star girls coach Lori Brittfollowing the win. “It was our third game in three days. We hadtrouble rebounding. We just gutted it out.”

Only one point separated the two teams in the firstquarter as the Lady Hornets led 13-12. In second-quarter play,Brookhaven went on a 14-7 scoring run that put the Lady Panthers up26-20 at the half.

The Loyd Star girls battled back in the third quarterwith an 18-15 run that cut the deficit to three points, 41-38,going into the final frame. The Lady Hornets had taken a fourpoint, 51-47 lead with 2:08 left to play, then went back up 53-49with 1:22 remaining. Nikki Blakely’s field goal and Tillman’sbasket tied the game with 40 seconds left on theclock.

“They (Loyd Star) wanted it more than we did,” saidBrookhaven girls head coach Ronald Gill. “Loyd Star deserved towin.”

Blakely powered Brookhaven (12-9) with 16 points.Tillman finished with 14 points.

Loyd Star (15-3) got 19 points and 17 rebounds fromChristie May. Townsend collected 14 points, four rebounds, threesteals and five assists. Beth Smith had six rebounds and twosteals.

Hazlehurst 66, Bogue Chitto 51

In the boys game, Bogue Chitto stunned Hazlehurst withits speed to take an 18-13 lead at the end of the first quarter.The Indians began hitting the boards and posted a 27-25 advantageover the Bobcats at the half.

Hazlehurst continued its hard-hitting play to maintain afive-point, 44-39 lead at the end of the third quarter. The Indianswent on to outscored the Bobcats 22-12 in the final frame to securethe win.

Bogue Chitto (7-12) were directed by Tradell Black andDenard Ferguson with 17 points apiece.

Antrell Gary’s 20 points powered Hazlehurst (8-16).Mario Gary followed with 18 points.

Hazlehurst 56, Bogue Chitto 36

The Hazlehurst girls took advantage of the sluggishshooting of Bogue Chitto to take a 14-11 lead in the first quarterand went up to 28-23 at the half.

The Lady Indians (15-9) came out exploding in the thirdquarter on an 18-4 run to take a commanding 20-point, 47-27,leading into the fourth quarter.

Hazlehurst’s LaTep Johnson was the leading scorer of thegame with 25 points. Aiesha Collins followed with 11points.

Bogue Chitto (14-5) got 11 points from Yolanda Drummond.Netting eight points was Jerrica McGary.

@Bbstandings:GIRLS

Loyd Star 55, Brookhaven 53

Loyd Star (53) Christie May 19, Townsend 14, J.Henderson 2, Coke 6, L. Smith 9, Beck Smith 5.

Brookhaven (53) Nikki Blakely 16, Watkins 4, Tallman 14,Gilmore 2, Walker 9, Stanton 6.

Total fouls: Brookhaven 15. Loyd Star 5. Fouledout-None. Technicals-None.

Free throws M-A: Loyd Star 14-19. Brookhaven2-3.

3-point goals: May 3, Watkins, L. Smith.

Loyd Star 13 7 18 17 – 55

Brookhaven 12 14 15 12 – 53

BOYS

Hazlehurst 66, Bogue Chitto 51

Hazlehurst (66) Autrell Gary 20, Mario Gary 18, Coleman2, Catchings 2, Jefferson 2, Banks 3, D. Gary 2. T. Harris9.

Bogue Chitto (51) Denard Ferguson 17, Tradell Black 17,Blackwell 2, Addison 4, Brown 5.

Total fouls: Hazlehurst 16. Bogue Chitto 12. Fouledout-None. Technicals-None.

Free throws M-A: M. Gary 2, Banks, Brown.

Hazlehurst 13 14 17 22 – 66

Bogue Chitto 18 7 14 12 – 51

GIRLS

Hazlehurst 56, Bogue Chitto 36

Hazlehurst (56) LaTep Johnson 25, Collins 11, C.Sandifer 4, S. Sandifer 2, Coleman 4, Richardson 6, Price 2, Brown2.

Bogue Chitto (36) Yolanda Drummond 11,McGary 8, Ratcliff 4, Moak 7, Melton 3, Thompson 3.

Total fouls: Hazlehurst 16. Bogue Chitto 12. Fouledout-None. Technicals-None.

Free throws M-A: Hazlehurst 7-11. Bogue Chitto4-9.

3-point goals: Thompson, Moak, Brown,Collins.

Hazlehurst 14 14 19 9 – 56

Bogue Chitto 11 12 4 9 – 36