Brookhaven’s Dexter Middleton pumped in a season-high 19 pointsas the Panthers claimed the 2003 Brookhaven Invitational Tournamentchampionship trophy with a hard-fought 63-49 win over the WilkinsonCounty Wildcats Saturday night in Sinclair Gymnasium.

The Brookhaven Lady Panthers led from start to finish, authoringa 58-42 win over the Wilkinson County Lady Wildcats.

There were four preliminary JV boys games. Brookhaven capturedtwo wins, 29-26 over Wesson and 34-30 in overtime victory overHazlehurst. Wilkinson County defeated Hazlehurst 42-36 and Wesson41-36. The Wildcats, by virtue of their margin of victory in their2 games, won the championship trophy in the JV division.

The Crystal Springs girls won the varsity girls championshipwith wins over Wilkinson County and Brookhaven.

Brookhaven hosts Port Gibson in non-division test Tuesday.

The Lady Panthers (10-11) went to their insidegame to open a 15-9 lead after the opening 8 minutes. Anna Autmanand Ayana Tillman combined for 8 points. The scoring pace sloweddown in the second frame, but Brookhaven exercised a 25-18advantage at the intermission.

“We are getting better,” said Lady Panther head coach BillyHolmes. “Our effort is improving.”

Tillman, a 6-foot senior center, tossed in 6 of her game-high 15points in the third, as the Lady Panthers held a 12-point margin,37-25, entering the final stanza.

Brookhaven’s Kristian McCray and Ashley Leggett combined for 14points in the fourth as the Lady Panthers held on for the 16-pointwin.

Autman followed Tillman with 11 points.

Latasha Williams tossed in a team-high 14 points and RosalynLacey pumped in 11 for the Lady Wildcats. Nakia Stewart scored 10of her 13 points in the final 8 minutes as Wilkinson County couldonly cut the deficit to 10 points.

The Panthers (17-3) scored from the outside andinside in taking an 18-14 lead into the second period. WilkinsonCounty stayed close in the opening 8 minutes, using a 6-for-8effort from the charity stripe.

The Wildcats had led 2-0 from the outset and never saw the leadagain. Several opportunities came but were quickly snuffed out thethe stifling Panther defense.

Brookhaven led 34-32 at halftime.

The Panthers shut down the Wildcat offensive in the second half,outscoring the Wildcats 29-17 for the 14-point victory.

“We took away their outside shot in the second half,” saidPanther head coach Ronald Hines.

Middleton, a 6-foot-1 senior guard/forward, knocked down 3 treysin the contest. Lamar Hall tossed in 17 points, including 5-for-7from the free throw line. Jasper Hall sacked 10 points and a pairof treys.

Bryant Spiller paced Wilkinson County with 16 points.

In the JV boys games, Brookhaven was led byMicah Tanner with 9 points against Wesson. Wade Williams pacedWesson with 7.

Percy Harris topped Wilkinson County with a game-high 13 points,followed by Douglas Dixon with 10. Hazlehurst got 12 points fromDwight Brown.

Tanner led Brookhaven with 11 points. Brown led Hazlehurst with10.

Dixon tossed in a game-high 16 points for Wilkinson County.Johny Butler led Wesson with 12 points.