Lady Panthers win in OT

Published 6:00 am Wednesday, February 25, 2004

It seems like every year that Brookhaven and George County meetin some sort of athletic event. On Monday night in the first roundof the South State 4A girls playoffs, it was the basketball versionof this rivalry.

The Brookhaven Lady Panthers produced an outstanding defensiveeffort and put away the Lady Rebels 32-28 in overtime. Seniorcenter Anna Autman, who made 3 free throws in the extra session,led the way with a game-high 15 points.

Brookhaven meets Wayne County Thursday at 4 p.m., in thequarterfinal round of the South State 4A tournament at NortheastJones in Laurel. Wayne County eliminated D’Iberville 52-30 Mondaynight.

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In other South 4A girls first round action, South Pike defeatedPetal 63-61, South Jones got by Wingfield 59-53, Mendenhall smashedGautier 43-17, NE Jones beat East Central 68-39 and Bay St. Louisburied Notheast Lauderdale 65-34. Laurel plays McComb today at 6p.m.

Thursday’s matchups at NE Jones also feature Bay St. Louis andSouth Jones at 5:30 p.m., followed by the McComb/Laurel winneragainst NE Jones at 7 p.m. South Pike and Mendenhall close out thequadruple header at 8:30 p.m.

Bay St. Louis is the defending Class 4A girls statechampion.

Brookhaven 32, George Co. 28 (OT)

Brookhaven (22-12) was looking to generate some offense Mondaynight. The Lady Panthers were averaging 34.4 points per game duringthe Division 6-4A tournament at McComb.

Lady Panther Latoria Kerr opened the game with a trey to giveher team an early 3-0 lead, and carried a 10-3 advantage into thesecond period. Autman tossed in 4 points, and Brookhaven led 16-10at the intermission.

George County (19-11) outscored the Lady Panthers 4-2 in thethird, on a pair of baskets by Heather Watson. The Lady Rebels,coached by Steve Pater, still trailed 18-14 entering the finalstanza.

Pater’s squad began to fight back and eventually took a 3-pointlead, at 25-22, on a basket by Tashara Pinkney. Pinkney led theLady Rebels with 13 points and 3 assists.

Kerr would answer 2 minutes later with a 3-point basket to tiethe game at 25-25 with 1:50 left in regulation.

“We need to score more from the outside,” added Holmes. “Latoria(Kerr) hit some big shots for us.”

In the extra session, Autman scored the first basket to giveBrookhaven the lead for good at 27-25. She also sacked 3 freethrows, with the latter coming with under 5 seconds left on theclock. That made it a 2-possession game for George County as timewould expire.

“Both ballclubs gave a great effort,” said Pater who is in hisfirst year at George County. “Brookhaven made the shots when theyneeded to.

“Anna (Autman) did well for them (Brookhaven),” added Pater,referring to the Lady Panther’s 6-foot senior center who posted 9rebounds and 3 steals.

Brookhaven head coach Billy Holmes echoed Pater’ssentiments.

“Anna came through for us tonight,” said Holmes. “She wanted theball down the stretch. She hit some big free throws.”

Lending support for the Lady Panthers was Chiquita Rancifer with10 rebounds and 3 steals, including 6 on the offensive end thatkept several Brookhaven possessions alive. Rancifer, along withAshley Leggett and Brianna Patton, each dished out 3 assists.

George County had 2 other players score in Tara Blackston with 8points and Watson with 7. Appollonia Nix was tops off thebackboards with 10, along with 3 steals. Blackston had 7rebounds.

The Lady Rebels committed16 turnovers while the Lady Panthersmade only 10 errors. Brookhaven outrebounded George County31-27.

“Our defense played well,” said Holmes.