MONTICELLO – Center David Clark produced a career-game Fridaynight. Clark accounted for 20 points, 9 rebounds and 8 blockedshots, leading the Lawrence County Cougars to a 59-54 ambush of theBrookhaven Panthers in Division 6-4A action.

Lawrence County (8-10, 1-0) avenged a 53-46 loss at Brookhavenon Dec. 6. The Cougars entertain Port Gibson for a division contestTuesday night and then visit the Blue Waves Friday night.Brookhaven hosts its invitational tournament this week, startingThursday and going through Saturday night.

Clark, a 6-6 sophomore, dominated the paint and the Cougarscapitalized on early foul trouble for Brookhaven senior post LamarHall who was held to 4 points. Bryant Wells supported Clark with 14points.

Brookhaven (15-3, 1-1) almost caught the Cougars in the closingminutes as senior guard Brandon Caston authored an offensive show.Caston scored 13 of his game-high 28 points in the final frame,including a pair of treys.

Panther teammate Jasper Hall provided a trey and a tipin with1:06 left to play, reducing the Cougars’ lead to 3-points, 52-49.Hall scored 8 of his 12 points in the final frame, sacking a pairof treys.

Cougar guard Vincent Newsome responded by making 5 of 6 freethrows in the final 81 seconds of the game, including 4 straight inthe last 63 ticks. Clark cashed in a layup off the fast-break andthe Cougars had their designated division win securely tuckedaway.

“Our kids played hard and we gave a winning effort,” saidLawrence County boys coach Bobby Lee. “Our defense was prettysolid, too.”

At the start of the third quarter, with the Panthers trailing40-29, Brookhaven coach Ronald Hines was assessed a technical foulby referee Charles Watkins for disputing a call. The Cougars wentup by 12 points, 41-29, when Wells hit the second of 2 technicalfree throws.

The Cougars overcame 15 turnovers in the game.

“We are not making the reads we need to make,” said Hines.reviewing his team’s offense. “We had too many turnovers.

“Lawrence County played defense well and they took it to thebasket real well.”

Lamar Hall picked up his fourth personal with 5:18 left in thegame and Brookhaven trailing by 8 points, 43-35. He was neutralizedby the hustling Cougars.

In the JV boys game, Lawrence County beatBrookhaven 49-38, led by Pat Johnson’s 18 points. Dexter Hayneschipped in 11 points.

Wade Stewart’s 11 points paced the Panthers. Michael Thrasheradded 10 ponts.