The Brookhaven Lady Panthers and Terry Bulldogs capturedDivision 6-4A Tournament championship gold Friday night withimpressive wins in Sinclair Gym.

The top-seed Lady Panthers put the ream, steam and dry cleaningto the No. 3-seed Mendenhall Lady Tigers 60-38. The No. 2-seededBulldogs got a last-second shot from Joe Willis; narrowly escapingthe No. 4-seed McComb Tigers 43-42.

The McComb boys were the defending tournament champions.

In the consolation finals, the McComb Lady Tigers defeated theTerry Lady Bulldogs 71-66. The Mendenhall Tigers beat the LawrenceCounty 53-48 in the boys consolation.

All 8 teams will advance the opening round of the South State 4Aplayoffs against teams from Division 8. Girls action gets under wayMonday night and the boys play Tuesday.

In the Division 8 finals at Poplarville, Picayune claimed thegirls title over Pass Christian. Long Beach defeated Poplarville inthe girls consolation game. In boys action, Long Beach beatPicayune, while Poplarville posted a win over Pass Christian in theboys consolation matchup.

The Lady Panthers host the Poplarville Lady Hornets (Division8-No. 4) at 7 p.m., in Sinclair Gym. The Cougars will play at LongBeach (Division 8 champion) Tuesday night in a 7 p.m. tipoff.

“Ticket prices for Monday night’s game at Brookhaven are $4 andonly state passes will be honored at the door,” said Brookhavenathletic director Tucker Peavey.

Brookhaven 60, Mendenhall 38

“We played our best game of the year against McComb Thursdaynight,” said Ole Brook head coach Billy Holmes. “Then we followedthat up with this game tonight. It feels good to be districtchampions.”

Holmes’ squad (18-14) increased their season-long winning streakto 8 games. The Lady Panthers are shooting between 45 to 50 percentfrom the field during that stretch.

“We have been shooting the ball well lately,” added Holmes. “Wealso have been getting production from our bench too.”

Ole Brook sophomore forward Swayze Black (10) and senior guardBlanche Wilson (7) combined for 17 of the Lady Panthers’ first 20points. Holmes’ girls carried a 20-3 cushion into the secondquarter. Portia Dickey and Jermecia Jones scored 6 points apiece inthe second stanza, as their teammates entered the halftime lockerroom with 32-12 lead.

Mendenhall (21-8) tried to counter with speedy guard play forBeggan Dancer. She scored 12 points in the game for the LadyTigers, but it would be the Lady Panthers’ decisive heightadvantage that would prove to be the difference in the game.

The Lady Panthers were 18 of 31 from the charity stripe andcommitted 15 turnovers.

Wilson and Jones paced the Ole Brook charge with 14 points each.Dickey and Black each tallied 10 points. Black had 11 rebounds, 2steals and 2 assists. Dickey had 5 rebounds, 2 steals and 4assists. Corina Bates had 4 steals.

The Lady Tigers, coached by Archie Skiffer, shot 30 percent fromthe field on 14 of 46 shooting. Mendenhall made 20 turnovers.

Terry 43, McComb 42

The Bulldogs (17-12) and Tigers (21-8) went back and forththroughout the 32-minute affair. There were numerous ties and leadchanges, as this defensive gala went down the final buzzer.

Terry, coached by Reginal Magee, led 14-9 at the end of thefirst and 23-13 at halftime.

McComb, under head coach Hilton Harrell’s tutelage, mounted acomeback in the second half. Forward Otis Smith came to life in thefinal 16 minutes, after a scoreless first half.

Smith sacked a pair of trey in the third and fourth, but theTigers still trailed 34-23 entering the final stanza.

The Tigers outscored the Bulldogs 19-7 to take a 42-40 lead withless than 10 second left on the clock.

Both teams combined to call 6 consecutive timeouts to set uptheir final offensive and defensive strategies.

Terry would have to travel the length of the court, to have anyattempt at a possible game-winning basket. Willis, a slender6-foot-1 senior southpaw guard, took the inbound pass at the McCombfree throw line. He took six dribbles before launching a runningjumper from the top of the key that would fall as the final hornsounded. Willis’ shot ignited a jubilant celebration, as teammatesand Coach Magee mugged Willis at midcourt.

McComb was stunned in disbelief as the final horn sounded.

“We were going to live or die on Joe Willis,” said Coach Mageefollowing the game. “We wanted him to take the last shot.

“This is the first district championship in school history,”added Magee. “I am proud of these kids.”

Willis and Matt Fortson led Terry with a game-high 14 pointsapiece. McComb was led by Smith and Roteddrick Cotton with 12points each.

Mendenhall 53, Lawrence Co. 48

The Tigers (26-5) continued their torrid shooting from 3-pointrange, sacking 8 treys on the night. Senior guard Garrick Walkerled the long-distance barrage by hitting 5 3-point baskets, enroute to a game-high 21 points. He canned a pair of treys in thefirst and fourth periods.

The Cougars, coached by Bobby Lee, led 17-12 entering the secondquarter. LCHS entertained a slim 28-27 lead at halftime.

Lending support for Mendenhall was James Walker with 11points.

LCHS was led by Craig Tyler with 15 points and 5 rebounds.Kelvin Rogers tossed in 11 points, 4 rebounds and 3 blocked shots.Dominique West dished out 6 assists and Lenquez Smith had 4. Westhad 2 steals.

McComb 71, Terry 66

The Lady Tigers (13-15) were led by Portia Craft with ateam-high 24 points. April Johnson and Alisha Rayborn pumped in 12points apiece.

The Lady Bulldogs (15-13) got a game-high 27 points from seniorChiquita Harrison. Sheena Allen followed with 14 points, whileAmber Brown.