The South State 4A girls basketball tournament could possibly berenamed the Division 6-4A tournament, Part II. Brookhaven, McComb,Mendenhall and Port Gibson were all winners in their opening roundgames Monday night. The Lady Panthers continued their dominance inthe paint, by posting a 52-28 win over the Gautier Lady Gators inSinclair Gym.

In other games involving 6-4A teams, McComb smashed D’Iberville65-33. Port Gibson got past Stone County 59-52, and Mendenhalldefeated St. Martin 58-48.

By virtue of Pass Christian’s 53-39 win over West Jones,Brookhaven will host the South State 4A Girls Tournament Thursdaythrough Saturday in Sinclair Gym. The Lady Panthers take on theLaurel Lady Tornadoes at 7 p.m. Thursday. Laurel eliminated LongBeach 57-36.

Other quarterfinals matchups include Wayne County and McComb at4 p.m., followed by Pass Christian and Port Gibson at 5:30. Thenightcap in the quadruple header will be Mendenhall and NE Jones at8:30.

Tickets are $7 each. Only state MHSAA passes will beaccepted.

Brookhaven 52, Gautier 28

The Lady Panthers (28-5) opened the game with a trio of6-footers across the front-line. Nikki Byrd, Swayze Black, alongwith Whitley Shannon, ruled the paint all night long. The threecombined for 45 points, 27 rebounds, 7 blocked shots, 6 assists and7 steals.

“We wanted to go inside and that is what we did,” said Ole Brookhead coach Freda Craft. “We want to continue to pound itinside.”

The Lady Gators (7-15) were no match against Brookhaven. With noone on the team over 5-foot-9, Gautier head coach Vincent Jacksoncould only look on in amazement.

“Their height advantage was the difference in the game,” saidCoach Jackson. “They (Brookhaven) dominated the paint. Coach(Craft) has a good program going on here.”

Gautier tried to counter the lack of inside scoring with anoutside punch. After trailing 12-1 late in the first quarter, theLady Gators cut their deficit to 4 points; 14-10 early in thesecond frame on a basket by senior Jessica Trotter.

Jackson’s ball club found themselves down 22-15 at theintermission.

“We are a very young team,” Coach Jackson said. “It is not anexcuse; we just did not play well.”

The Lady Panthers would outscore Gautier 20-13 in the secondhalf, to win going away.

Byrd led all scorers with 17 points, 6 rebounds, 5 blocked shotsand 3 steals. Black followed with 16 points 15 rebounds, 2 blockedshots, 4 steals and 5 assists. Shannon had 12 points and 6rebounds. Kayla Harris had 9 rebounds and 6 assists. Jermecia Jonesdished out 2 assists.

Ole Brook doubled Gautier in rebounding 44-22. The Lady Panthersshot 49 percent (23 of 47) from the field and 67 percent (6 of 9)from the charity stripe.

Trotter paced Gautier with 10 points, 3 assists and 4 steals.The Lady Gators shot 23 percent from the floor (11 of 47).

The teams combined for only 13 fouls. Brookhaven had 21turnovers, compared to 18 by Gautier.