Senior Night proved to be extra special for Brookhaven’s LadyPanthers. They defeated Terry 55-50 Tuesday night in SinclairGymnasium, clinching the No. 1 seed in the Division 6-4A Tournamentat Terry, Feb. 12-16.

Providing much of Brookhaven’s firepower was sophomore centerAyana Tillman who finished with 16 points and 8 rebounds. Seniorforward Nikki Blakely and sophomore guard Aneidra Stanton joinedTillman in double digits with 11 and 12 points respectively.Juliana Wallace chipped in 8 rebounds.

Blakely, who misplaced her prescription lens goggles yesterdayafternoon in the gymnasium, was forced to wear her regular,wire-rimmed glasses last night. They were promptly knocked off herface as she battled for a rebound.

“I have to wear glasses,” said Blakely. “I can’t see muchwithout them.”

Blakely, a Daily Leader All-Lincoln County Teamselection as a junior, is one of three seniors on the squad. Shesaid the Lady Panthers (16-8, 4-0) have steadily improved thisseason. “I’m proud of our team. We have come a long way. I think wecan beat anybody if we play like this but we can’t afford to getthe big head.”

Terry (17-10, 3-2) was counting heavily on 6-2 senior centerSamantha Harris to carry them. Harris, a strong post player, scored17 of her game-high 22 points in the first half. Terry trailed30-24 at halftime.

“I told our players we had to get on the big girl (Harrison)like skin,” said Brookhaven coach Ronald Gill. “She scored 28 when(Terry) beat McComb and she got 26 against Lawrence County. She’sstrong and has a soft touch shooting the ball.”

Wallace started the game with a trey from the corner andBrookhaven took an 18-12 first-quarter lead. They led 46-28 at theend of the third quarter as Stanton sank a layup with 59 secondsleft for an 18-point bulge. She also had 4 steals and 3assists.

Brookhaven took a 17-point, 48-31 lead with 4:29 left to play onShamika Gilmore’s short jumper. Gill ordered his team to run timeoff the clock and they coasted to the victory.

The Lady Bulldogs, coached by Liz Foster, got 12 points fromJamie Sanders.

Brookhaven plays a Friday night at McComb in a Division 6-4Atripleheader.

Brookhaven 55, Terry 40

Terry (40) Samantha Harrison 22, Lindsey 8, Sanders12.

Brookhaven (55) Ayana Tillman 16, Stanton 12, Gilmore 5,Wallace 9, Blakely 11, X. Watkins 2.

Total fouls: Terry 17. Brookhaven 14. Fouled out-Minerof Terry.

Free Throws M-A: Terry 4-11. Brookhaven8-15.

3-point goals: Sanders 2, Lindsey, Wallace.