MONTICELLO — Brookhaven met Lawrence County Tuesday night, atthe LCHS Multi-Purpose Building for a big Division 6-4A test. ThePanthers had to use overtime to forge a 62-52 win over the Cougars,behind an 8-for-12 charity stripe performance.

The Lady Panthers used a 24-18 rebounding edge to defeat theLawrence County Lady Cougars 44-38 in Division 6-4A play Tuesdaynight. Center Anna Autman led the Lady Panthers’ charge with agame-high 24 points and 11 rebounds, plus 3 steals and 3assists.

Lawrence County defeated Brookhaven 35-29 in the JV boysgame.

Both teams return to action Friday for key division tests.Lawrence County ventures to Wingfield, while Brookhaven travels toMcComb.

Brookhaven 62, Lawrence Co. 56 (OT)

This game featured 7 ties and 11 lead changes. Neither team wasable to put the other away. Brookhaven’s largest lead in the gamewas 8 points, while LCHS’s biggest margin was 6.

Brookhaven (12-12, 3-4) rode the back of forward Jasper Hall.The 6-foot-4 senior pumped in 10 of his game-high 24 points in theopening 8 minutes, including a pair of treys. Hall finished with 5rebounds.

Lawrence Co. (8-11, 2-5) countered with the inside presence ofjunior post player David Clark, scoring in the period. The Cougars,coached by Bobby Lee, trailed 21-16 heading into the secondperiod.

Cougars Justin Middlebrook and Justin Lewis combined for 8points, but their team was behind 32-39 at halftime.

In the third quarter, it appeared LCHS was trying to put thegame away. The Cougars held a 6-point lead at 42-36 on a 3-pointbasket Mervyn Bridges.

Panther Rodney Daniels hit a trey at the end of the third periodand cut Brookhaven’s deficit to 3 points at 42-39 entering thefourth frame.

The lead seesawed back and forth in the final 8 minutes.Brookhaven sent the game into overtime on a free throw by PhilipTobias with under 14 seconds left in regulation.

Lee’s ballclub had opportunities to win the game, but poordecisions ultimately cost them.

“Our guards didn’t handle the ball well in crucial situations,”said Lee. “We did not make good decisions.”

In the extra session, LCHS led 56-54 with 3 minutes left on atrey by Vincent Newsome. The Panthers sacked 8-of-12 free throwsand outscored the Cougars 10-4 in the period. Hall was 5-for-8 forBHS head coach Ronald Hines.

“This was a big win for us,” said Hines following the game. “Weneed to make our free throws.”

Clark, who was in foul trouble throughout the game, finishedwith 12 points and 7 rebounds. He fouled out with 40 seconds leftin regulation. Newsome tallied 15 points, 6 rebounds and 3 assists.Middlebrook and Lewis each had 3 assists.

Lending support for the Panthers were Tobias with 6 rebounds.Daniels, Ganeiro Richardson, Jermaine Culver dished out 3 assists.Daniels had 3 steals.

Brookhaven 44, Lawrence Co. 38

Autman, a 6-foot senior, worked the paint all night long. Shescored 8 points in the first period as her teammates led 18-10heading into the second stanza.

Despite the height advantage by Brookhaven, Lawrence County(8-11, 3-4) was able to take a brief 27-26 lead. The Lady Panthersclaimed a 28-27 lead at the start of the second half.

Brookhaven (13-10, 4-3), coached by Billy Holmes, outscored LCHS9-7 in the third quarter, to take a 37-29 into the fourth period.Autman registered 7 points in the third.

Lawrence Co got within 4 points at 42-38 on a trey by juniorRonesha Garner with 20 seconds remaining in the game.

Lady Panther sophomore guard Blanche Wilson sank 2 free throwswith 12 seconds left to ice the win for Holmes.

“It was a good win for us,” said Holmes. “We still need to getbetter at making decisions.”

Offering support for Brookhaven was Kristian McCray with 13rebounds and 3 assists. Chiquita Rancifer had 3 steals.

Garner led LCHS with 15 points, 5 steals and 3 assists. ViolaMcGowan had 3 assists.

“I am proud of the girls tonight,” said Ross who will end hiscoaching duties at LCHS Feb. 27, to serve as Lawrence CountyDistrict 1 supervisor full-time.

In the JV game, Craig Tyler led all scorers with 11 points forLawrence County. Brookhaven got 9 points from Ken Harris.