Ayana Tillman went from being a spectator to providing anoffensive explosion Friday night in Sinclair Gymnasium. Tillmancame off the bench to score 15 points and lead the Brookhaven LadyPanthers to a 46-32 triumph over Lawrence County’s LadyCougars.

Tillman, a 6-foot senior, was relegated to a reserve roll beforeBHS coach Billy Holmes sent her into action. She became adomination force, scoring all of her points in the second half asthe Lady Panthers increased a 19-13 lead. She also had 8 reboundsand 3 blocked shots.

“Ayana came off the bench and was effective inside for us,” saidHolmes. “We finally got the ball inside to her and she got acoupled of buckets.”

Stacey Smith, Lawrence County’s main defender in the paint, wasin early foul trouble. That was bad news for Coach Archie Ross andhis Lady Cougars who fell to 6-2 with the loss.

“We got in foul trouble and we didn’t’ have anybody to handleTillman,” said Ross. “She played good inside.”

Like the Lady Panthers, Ross saw his team struggle withturnovers. “Hopefully, we will play better when they visit us,” onJan. 10, 2003, for a designated Division 6-4A contest.

Brookhaven (7-3), playing its first game since the Thanksgivingholiday break, showed the effects of a 10-day layoff. The Pantherstrailed 8-6 after the first quarter. They took the lead on a treyby guard Mandy Vinson, followed by an 18-footer, giving BHS an 11-8lead with 5:46 left in the first half.

“We were very sloppy and our intensity wasn’t good,” saidHolmes. “We were very passing in everything we did.

“We had to win on our defense,” Holmes noted. “Mandy kept usalive in the first half.”

Center Anna Autman gave BHS a boost late in the first half,sacking a putback and a short jumper from the lane for a 19-13advantage. Vinson had 7 of her 8 points before halftime.

A steal and a layup by Brittney Peyton and 2 free throws byRonesha Garner to start the second half reduced Brookhaven’s leadto 19-17 but the Cougars could come no closer. Garner led LCHS with10 points. Jasmine Lewis accounted for 7 rebounds. Garner had 6boards.

Brookhaven senior forward Shamika Gilmore went scoreless. Shesustained an injury to her right elbow in the Nov. 25 McComb gameand wore an elastic wrap on her arm.

Brookhaven resumes play Dec. 13, at South Pike. Lawrence Countyhosts Prentiss the same night.