The No.1-seed Brookhaven Lady Panthers cashed in their ticket tothe Division 6-4A girls championship game with a 51-35 semifinalwin over the No. 5-seed McComb Lady Tigers Thursday night, inSinclair Gymnasium.

The Lady Panthers, ranked No. 6 in the latest Quality HomeOxygen Southwest MS Prep Super Seven poll, will meet No. 3-seedMendenhall today at 7 p.m. The Lady Tigers were 64-61 winners overNo. 2-seed Terry

McComb plays Terry at 4 in the consolation game.

In boys action, Coach Hilton Harrell’s McComb Tigers, seededfourth, upset the No. 1-seed Lawrence County Cougars 49-44, in abattle Quality Home Oxygen Southwest MS Prep Super Seven boysteams.

The Tigers, who are ranked sixth and are the defendingtournament champions, improved to 21-7; while the third-rankedCougars dropped to 17-7.

McComb meets Terry in the championship game at 8:30 today. TheBulldogs were 64-53 winners over No. 2-ranked Mendenhall. TheTigers plays Lawrence County for the fifth time this season at 5:30in the boys consolation gam

All 4 teams will advance to the opening round of the South State4A tournament Monday at 7, against teams from Division 8.Brookhaven and Mendenhall will hosts game, while Terry and McCombwill travel on the road.

McComb and Terry will host in the boys games Tuesday

Division 8 semifinalists are Picayune, Poplarville, PassChristian and Long Beach.

Brookhaven 51, McComb 35

The Lady Panthers (17-14) continue their winning ways, as theyextend their season long winning streak to 7. Ole Brook used theirheight advantage to aid the victory over McComb.

Brookhaven sophomore Swayze Black provided the offensive sparkin the second half, scoring 14 of her game-high 16 points;including 9 in the fourth quarter.

“Swayze played well tonight for us,” said Ole Brook head coachBilly Holmes. “She was looking to score late in the game.”

Black also grabbed 11 rebounds and blocked 2 McComb shots. TheLady Tigers (13-15) kept this game close, trailing 10-8 at the endof the first quarter, and 21-13 at the intermission break.

McComb, coached by Angela Johnson, held a 14-10 edge inoffensive rebounding; but were unable to convert on their numeroussecond chance opportunities.

Ole Brook outdistanced the Lady Tigers in the second half30-22.

“McComb played hard tonight,” added Holmes. “We played well as ateam tonight. We are continually improving with each game.”

Lending support for the Lady Panthers was Nikki Byrd with 7rebounds and 8 points. Angel Weston had 8 points, 2 steals and 2assists. Blanche Wilson dished out 4 assists.

Leading the way for McComb was Portia Craft with 13 points.

Mendenhall 64, Terry 61

The Lady Tigers (21-7) got a game-high 32 points from TiffanyLawson. Coach Archie Skiffer got 4 free throws from Lawson in thewaning moments. Duquesne Bickham and Marlakia Keys each tossed in10 points.

The Lady Bulldogs (14-12) got 21 points apiece from ChiquitaHarrison and Ariel Dawkins. Terry is coached by Bobby Coleman.

McComb 49, Lawrence County 44

The Tigers came out of the starting game on fire, carrying a17-12 lead into the second stanza. Junior Roteddrick Cotton had 6points in the opening frame.

The Cougars, under the direction of Bobby Lee, countered withsenior center Craig Tyler who tallied 6 points in the second. LCHScarried a 1-point advantage, 25-24 into the halftimelockerroom.

Cotton carried his teammates on his shoulders in the thirdperiod. He registered 13 of his game-high 24 points in the period,on medium-range jumpers and offensive putbacks.

LCHS carried a 39-37 lead into the final period.

“We had good shots at the basket tonight,” said Lee. “But wejust could not hit them.”

Lee’s Cougars managed only 5 points in the final 8 minutes, asthe Tigers got baskets and free throws from Cotton, Otis Smith andAkeem Williams to seal the win.

Williams tossed in 12 points, grabbed 7 rebounds and dished out2 assists. Cotton had 2 steals. Smith had 6 rebounds.

The Cougars were led by Tyler with 12 points, 3 blocked shotsand 18 rebounds. Lenquez Smith had 13 points (3 treys) and 5rebounds.

Terry 64, Mendenhall 53

The Bulldogs (16-12) got a game-high 19 points from guard JoeWillis. Terencio Powell tossed in 16, while Matt Fortson had 11points for head coach Reginal Magee.

The Tigers (25-5) were led by Kentrell Cleveland with 16 pointsand Garrick Walker 11. Mendenhall is coached by Jeff Walker.