MONTICELLO — Charles (Bobo) Rancifer pumped in a game-high 22points Tuesday night to power the Brookhaven Panthers to a 47-45Division 6-4A win over the Lawrence County Cougars. Rancifer alsograbbed 4 rebounds and made 3 steals.

In the varsity girls game, the Lady Panthers placed threeplayers in double figures on their way to a lopsided 75-27 victoryover the Lady Cougars. Swayze Black led with 24 points, AshleyGayten netted 17 points and Nikki Byrd finished with 14 points.

Brookhaven entertains Mendenhall and Lawrence County hostsFlorence for division action Friday night.

Brookhaven 47, Lawrence Co. 45

The Panthers (14-9, 5-4) went into the fourth quarter trailingLawrence Co. (12-14, 4-5) by a score of 35-34. Brookhaven went on a13-10 run down the stretch to escape with the win.

“We’re glad to get the win,” said Brookhaven boys headcoach Ronald Hines who has beaten LCHS twice this season. “We areglad to finally get over the hump.”

The Panthers have lost several close game by under under5 points.”The kids have been really playing hard,” saidHines.

Rancifer led off the backboards with 14 rebounds andadded 3 steals for the Panthers. Simmie Yarborough netted 8 pointsand grabbed 8 rebounds.

Both teams shot 44 percent from the free throw line and41 percent from the field.

Dominique West directed the Cougars with 15 points and 4steals. Scoring 11 points was Albert Brown. Oliver Peyton finishedwith 8 points and pulled down 6 rebounds.

“You have to make free throws down the stretch,” saidLawrence County coach Preston Wilson. “We just didn’t playwell.”

The Cougars were 11 of 25 from the charity line. ThePanthers went 10 of 24.

Brookhaven 75, Lawrence Co. 27

Both teams were slow in the first half, with the Lady Panthers(22-5, 9-0) leading 7-3 over the Lady Cougars (1-21, 0-9).Brookhaven kicked the game in gear with a 30-4 scoring run in thesecond quarter to carry a 37-7 lead in at the half.

” I was proud of the bench,” said first-year Brookhaven girlscoach Freda Craft. “They gave a good effort tonight. We were gladto get the win.”

Craft’s bench outscored Lawrence Co. 28-10. Off the bench Gaytenhad 17 points.

Black and Byrd also grabbed 5 rebounds and blocked 3 shotsapiece for Brookhaven. Black added 5 steals. Katie Mackabee led offthe backboards with 9 rebounds and had 3 assists.

Netting 5 points each for Lawrence were Brittney Collins, CandelMay, Kasey May and Jessica Speed. Collins grabbed 5 rebounds andmade 2 steals.

“Brookhaven’s height was an advantage,” said Lawrence Countygirls coach Vicki Rutland. “It was key in the game. Our girlsplayed hard.”

Junior varsity boys

Cazlyn Peyton fired in 12 points to lead the Lawrence boys to a34-32 win over Brookhaven. Deonte’ Fox led the Panthers with 9points.