BROOKHAVEN – During the basketball post-season, turnovers andfree throws can make a difference for any team.

In the South State 4A Girls Quarterfinals at Brookhaven High’sJames A. Sinclair Gymnasium Thursday night, Brookhaven (33) andLaurel (29) combined for 62 turnovers. The Lady Tornadoes shot 8 of24 (32 percent) from the charity stripe, while the Lady Panthersshot at a 12 of 17 clip.

Combine those number with a 39-25 Ole Brook rebounding edge, andthe results was 75-61 win over the Lady Tornadoes.

Other quarterfinal action saw Wayne County smash McComb 71-46and Pass Christian defeated Port Gibson 69-61. Mendenhall escapedNortheast Jones 51-48 in the nightcap.

Brookhaven improves to 29-5. Laurel, coached by Ryakko Ernest,concludes its season at 24-9.

In today’s semi-finals, Wayne County takes on Pass Christian at6, followed at 7:30 by Brookhaven and Mendenhall in the nightcap.The winners will meet Saturday at 7:30 in the championship game,and are guaranteed a spot in next week’s state tournament inJackson. The loser’s meet at 6 Saturday, with the winner of thatgame getting the No. 3 in the state tournament.

Brookhaven 75, Laurel 61

“We had too many turnovers in the game,” said Coach Ernest. “Wedid not shoot free throws tonight.

Ernest saw her ballclub allow Brookhaven to score 16 points offLaurel’s 29 miscues. Even with three 6-footers on the floor for OleBrook, the Lady Tornadoes continued to take the ball to thebasket.

“We were not intimidated by their height,” Ernest added. “Wewere well-prepared for what they (Brookhaven) were going to do. Wejust did not execute and our shots did not fall.”

This game was a lot closer than the score indicated. Laurel keptthe game within range (10-19 points), even though they trailed 20-9after one period and 34-24 at the intermission break. The LadyTornadoes used a balanced scoring attack, led by Amber Husband andKaly Moody who each tossed in 7 first-half points.

Dandy Dozen junior center Nikki Byrd (10), along with SwayzeBlack (6) and Whitley Shannon (11), countered Laurel with 27 of theLady Panthers’ 31 points in the first half. Byrd led all scorerswith 31 points (20 in the second half), 14 rebounds, 3 blockedshots and 3 steals in the game.

Laurel began to mount a comeback in the third quarter; cuttingtheir deficit down to 7 points, at 46-39 with 2:03left in theperiod on a basket by Moody. That would be as close as the LadyTornadoes would get in the game.

The Lady Panthers would close out the third with an 8-2 burst,to take a 13-point advantage at 54-41; entering the finalstanza.

Also lending support for head coach Freda Craft’s Lady Pantherswere Black had 11 points, 10 rebounds, 2 blocked shots, 2 stealsand 2 assists. Shannon had 3 assists.

Brookhaven committed 33 turnovers on the night, but shot 62percent (31 of 50) from the floor.

“We had far too many turnovers,” said Coach Craft. “We are justglad to get the win.”

Moody led the Lady Tornadoes with 15 points and 3 steals.Adrienne Mackay pumped in 11 points, 7 rebounds and 11 steals.

Wayne County 71, McComb 46

The Lady War Eagles (32-2) got a game-high 26 points fromShameka Russell and 18 point from Teanna Carter.

The Lady Tigers (22-10) were led by Carishian Patterson with 18points and Alisha Rayborn with 10.

Pass Christian 69, Port Gibson 61

The Lady Pirates (25-4) got 14 points from Nicole Wittmann and11 points Mykeal Hall.

The Lady Wave (20-14) were led by Shannon Johnson with 15points.

Mendenhall 51, NE Jones 48

The Simpson County-based Lady Tigers (20-10) were led by TiffanySims with 14 points. Marlakia Keyes and Serenitee McKinnis each had10 points.

The Jones County-based Tigers (22-10) got a game-high 20 pointsfrom Consuela Tucker and 10 from Valerie Clayton.