RIDGELAND – The Brookhaven girls and boys basketball teamsclosed out the 2002 portion of their schedule with three Fridaynight games in Madison County. An encounter with first-year upstartRidgeland was on the menu.

Brookhaven managed to take 2 during the 3-course meal. ThePanthers rolled past the Titans 75-42, while the Lady Titans pulledoff a 40-37 upset win over the Lady Panthers, avenging aseason-opening setback.

Brookhaven tipped off the evening’s festivities with a 44-31 winover Ridgeland in the JV boys game.

The Lady Panthers travel to the New Orleans (La.) area toparticipate in the Shake & Bake Classic by the Lake girlsbasketball tournament, Dec. 27-30. Brookhaven opens play in the60-team tourney, Friday, Dec. 27, at 7:45 p.m. against the Minden(La.) Lady Crimson Tide.

The Panthers travel to the Capital City on Dec. 26 to meet theMurrah Mustangs in the first round of the Jackson PublicSchools/Pepsi Holiday Tournament. Game time is set for 4:30 p.m. atWingfield.

The Panthers (13-1) came out of the startinggate on fire, jetting out to a 27-6 first period lead. Brookhavenhead coach Ronald Hines and assistant Dan Presley watched as theirballclub sacked 5 treys in the opening 8 minutes.

“We shot the basketball well in the first quarter,” saidHines.

Brookhaven’s offensive prowess diminished during the secondframe, scoring only 5 points. The Panthers still entertained a15-point lead, 32-17, at the intermission.

Hines’ ballclub outscored the Titans 42-25 in the second half topull out the victory.

Twelve Panthers scored, led by senior center Lamar Hall with agame-high 14 points. Point guard Brandon Caston netted 12 points,including 3 treys.

Ridgeland, coached by Roderick Davidson, got 13 points fromMorris Carroll.

The Lady Panthers (8-6) could not find therange in the first half, trailing 13-7 after one quarter and 21-9at the intermission. They were minus senior point guard AneidraStanton who quit the team after last Monday’s loss at BogueChitto.

“We did not come to play in the first half,” said Lady Pantherfirst-year head coach Billy Holmes.

Brookhaven caught fire in the third frame, outscoring the LadyTitans 14-10 in the quarter; including a 13-0 run sparked by 4consecutive 3-point baskets from Tiffany Watkins and 1 apiece fromMegan Bateman and Chiquita Rancifer. The Lady Panthers stilltrailed 31-23 entering the final stanza.

Brookhaven continued to chip away at Ridgeland’s lead, trimmingit to 2 points on several occasions. But the Lady Titans tookadvantage of numerous Brookhaven turnovers to pick up theirfirst-ever, home-floor win.

Watkins led all scorers with 13 points. Rancifer provided 8points.

Myeshia Johnson paced Ridgeland with 11 points. Wade Hawkins andJennifer Wilkerson coach the Lady Titans.

In the JV boys game, Brookhaven got 10 pointsapiece from Jeremy Bennett and Michael Byrd. Terrell Phillips ofRidgeland led all scorers with 13 points.