PRENTISS — Brookhaven and Prentiss showcased their girls andboys basketball Tuesday in the season openers for both teams.

In a much anticipated matchup, the Lincoln County visitorsspoiled the 2003-2004 debut of the host Bulldogs; taking bothvarsity contest in impressive fashion. The Panthers got theirseason off to a roaring start with a 69-62 upset win over thePrentiss Bulldogs, despite a 29-point performance by PrentissAll-American center Al Jefferson. Senior center Anna Autman paced 3Lady Panthers in double figures, as Brookhaven pinned a 68-48 losson the Prentiss Lady Bulldogs.

The Prentiss boys, ranked No. 8 in several preseason polls, arethe defending Class 3A state champions.

Brookhaven defeated Prentiss in the preliminary JV girls game,but further information was unavailable at press time.

Brookhaven and Prentiss will meet Monday, at Brookhaven’sSinclair Gymnasium.

Brookhaven will host Piney Woods Thursday in the Piney WoodsClassic, at the Sinclair Gym. Action gets under way with thevarsity girls game at 6 p.m., followed by the varsity boys game at7:30 p.m. Prentiss meets Lawrence County Thursday in the MendenhallTournament. The girls game gets under way at 4 p.m., followed bythe boys game at 5:30 p.m.

The Panthers (1-0) dialed long distance in thefirst quarter, as Brookhaven connected on 5 treys from downtownPrentiss. Seniors Jermaine (Shug) Culver scored 9 of Brookhaven’sfirst 11 points on 3 treys. Scott Pickett and Rodney Daniels addedindividual treys as head coach Ronald Hines and assistant JeffWalker saw their ballclub lead 21-9 at the end of the firstquarter.

Jefferson, a 6-9 senior post player, was held to only 2 pointsin the first 8 minutes, but opened up his offensive game in thesecond period with 10 points.

Brookhaven used a combination of outside shooting and driving tothe basket, to forge a 14-point lead, 40-26 at theintermission.

Prentiss (0-1), coached by Lonnie McLemore, would not give upwithout a fight. The Bulldogs got 8 points from Jefferson, alongwith a combined 9 points from Lucian Martinez, Rommie Daniels andZack Magee. McLemore’s squad still trailed 48-43 entering thefourth quarter.

Jefferson gave Prentiss its first and only lead of the game at51-50, with 6:40 left in the game on a turnaround jumper in thepaint.

That lead lasted for 10 seconds. Panther senior center JasperHall connected on an old-fashion 3-point play to give Brookhaventhe advantage at 53-50.

With the score tied at 55-55 on a short basket by Martinez,Brookhaven closed the game out with a 14-9 run to secure thewin.

“What a great way to get the season started,” said Hinesfollowing the game.

Culver led the Panthers with 22 points, followed by Hall with16. Daniels pumped in 13 points.

McLemore was pleased with his team’s effort despite theloss.

“I’m proud of the way that our kids played tonight,” saidMcClemore. “We played 2 kids that have never played basketballbefore. Our team never gave up.”

The Lady Panthers (1-0) led from start tofinish in making their season debut a success. Brookhaven, coachedby Billy Holmes and Terri Hall, led 12-8 heading into the secondperiod.

Autman tossed in 12 points in the first half as her teammatesclaimed a 36-29 lead at halftime.

Prentiss (0-1), coached by Wanda Ard, kept the game with outsideshooting from Antina Williams. Williams scored 10 of her game-high23 points in the opening half on long jumpers.

Lady Panther sophomore guard Blanche Wilson scored 11 of her 14points in the second half, including 4 baskets from beyond the3-point arc. Brookhaven claimed a 49-37 lead entering the finalstanza.

“I was very pleased with the effort for the first game,” saidHolmes. “We did a lot of good things out there tonight, but westill need to get better.”

Brookhaven got support from Chiquita Rancifer with 12 points.The Lady Panthers got 16 points from their bench in the form ofWilson’s 14 and a pair of free throws from Corena Bates.

“We had our first game jitters,” said Ard. “Brookhaven has areal good team.”