McCOMB – The Division 6-4A Tournament got under way Tuesdayevening with a tripleheader in McComb’s renovated gymnasium. TheBrookhaven Panthers, seeded No. 5 and the defending tournamentchampions, opened the night against the No. 4 seed Terry.

The Bulldogs shot 33-of-47 (70 percent) from the charity stripeand took advantage of 19 Panther miscues to author a 76-68 win.Terry committed only 18 fouls, while the Panthers shot 10-of-23from the free throw line and rendered 36 fouls. xBrookhaven closestheir season at 14-16.

In other tournament action, the Wingfield Lady Falconseliminated the Terry Lady Bulldogs 62-38 and the McComb boysslipped by South Pike 83-81.

Terry meets top-seeded Jim Hill Thursday, at 5:30. McComb meetthe Wingfield/Lawrence County winner Thursday at 8:30 in boysaction. The Lady Falcons await the Brookhaven/Jim Hill winnerThursday at 4.

Action continues today in the first round with 3 games. TheBrookhaven Lady Panthers, the No. 3 seed, take on the No. 6-seededJim Hill Lady Tigers at 5 p.m. The Wingfield/Lawrence County boystip off at 6:30 p.m. and the South Pike/Lawrence County girls beginat 8 p.m.

Terry 76, Brookhaven 68

The Bulldogs (12-13) never trailed in the game, with only asingle deadlock. Terry, coached by Reggie Magee, came out of thestarting gate on fire to author a 21-6 first quarter lead. Magee’steam used an 8-0 run and a 6-0 run to close out the period.

Whistles blew frequently throughout the evening on seen andunseen calls. The teams combined for 54 fouls and 70 free throws.Terry went 12-for-15 (80 percent) from the charity stripe in thefirst half to take a 16-point advantage, 36-20 into the halftimelocker room.

“Brookhaven is well-coached,” said Magee, who is in his initialstint at Terry, after coming from Crystal Springs. “With the typeof defense that they (Brookhaven) were playing, we knew we had tofind the open man.”

Bulldog guard Matthew Fortson dished out 5 assists in the firsthalf. Joe Willis was on the receiving end of several passes,scoring 10 of his team-high 18 points. Fortson finished with 16points and 7 assists. Terencio Powell grabbed 7 rebounds.

Brookhaven begin to chip away at their deficit in the secondhalf. Seniors Rodney Daniels (2 treys) and Philip Tobias combinedfor 19 points in the third quarter. The Panthers trailed by 8points, 53-45 entering the final frame. Hall grabbed a game-high 18rebounds and blocked 3 Terry shots.

BHS head coach Ronald Hines watched as forward Jasper Hall puton a shooting display in the final 8 minutes. Hall, a 6-foot-4senior, tossed in 19 of his game-high 28 points (3 treys). Hissecond 3-point basket of the period tied the game at 56-56 with5:45 left on the clock.

On the ensuing possession, Bulldog Brandon Norwood gave Terrythe lead for good on a layup. The closest Brookhaven would get was1-point, 63-62, on Hall’s final trey of the night. Hall finishedwith 9 rebounds, 3 blocked shots, 3 steals and 3 assists.

Terry closed the game with a 15-6 run to end the Panthers’season.

“We did not shoot free throws well,” said Hines. “Our kids nevergave up.”

Wingfield 76, Terry 38

The No. 2 seed Lady Falcons got a game-high 17 points fromsophomore Shana Wilson. Andria Doty followed with 16 for head coachBobby Gates. Freshmen guard Amber Brown paced the Lady Bulldogs,seeded No. 7, with 16 points for head coach Phatsis Winfrey.

McComb 83, South Pike 81

John Thompson led the homestanding Tigers, seeded No. 2, with agame-high 26 points. Chris Brock and Eric Mitchell followed with 15points apiece, while Chris Daniels pumped in 12 for head coachHilton Harrell.

The No. 7-seeded Eagles got 22 points each from seniors KevinMcCoy and Kedrick Herring. Fred Jones, the Division 6-4A MVP infootball, tallied 19 points. Joe Taylor coaches South Pike.