SUMMIT — The 2007-08 basketball season got off to a good startfor Brookhaven High School Saturday afternoon in the North PikeClassic. The Lady Panthers soundly defeated the Tylertown LadyChiefs 85-37 and the Panthers got by the Tylertown Chiefs53-44.

In other tournament action, the Lawrence County Lady Cougarsdefeated North Pike 48-40. The North Pike girls got by Port Gibson55-45. The Port Gibson boys jetted past North Pike 100-71.

Brookhaven makes its home debut in Sinclair Gymnasium Nov. 6,hosting North Pike.

Tylertown, Lawrence County, the McComb boys and North Pikecontinue play Monday in the North Pike Classic, with action gettingunder way at 4:30.

Brookhaven 85, Tylertown 37

The Lady Panthers (1-0) used their superior height advantage topick up their opening win of the season. Even though a 48-pointvictory is good, there is still a lot of work to do, according toBrookhaven head coach Freda Craft.

“It was good to get that first win out of the way,” said CoachCraft, whose Lady Panthers are ranked No. 5 in a statewidepreseason girls basketball poll. “But we still have a lot of workto do to get better.”

Ole Brook powered its way to a 22-8 first-quarter and led 49-22at the intermission. Senior Dandy Dozen Nikki Byrd (12) and juniorforward Ashley Gayten (10) were catalysts for the Lady Panthers.Senior Dandy Dozen guard Swayze Black found Byrd and Gayten withnumerous assists underneath the basket.

The Lady Chiefs (0-1) were outscored 36-15 in the secondhalf.

Byrd led all scorers with 22 points, 2 blocked shots, 4 stealsand 5 assists. Gayten pumped in 15 points, 8 rebounds, 6 assistsand 4 steals. Black followed with 14 points, 9 rebounds, 7 assistsand 2 steals. Whitley Shannon had 14 points, 6 rebounds and 3steals.

Tylertown was led by Phenequa Magee with 14 points, 8 reboundsand 5 steals. Octavia Bearden had 12 points, 7 rebounds and 2steals.

Brookhaven shot 62 percent (39 of 63) from the field, but only44 percent (7 of 16) from the charity stripe. Tylertown was held to29 percent (13 of 46) from the field and the free throw line (6 of21). The Lady Panthers won the rebounding battle 45-28.

Ole Brook committed 18 turnovers, compared to 28 byTylertown.

“We will have to do a better job of making good decisions,”Coach Craft commented following the game.

Brookhaven 53, North Pike 44

The Panthers (1-0) were a bit sluggish coming out of thestarting gate against Tylertown. Ole Brook led 8-4 after oneperiod, and 25-19 at the halftime break.

The Chiefs (0-1), coached by Lavern Lee, kept this game close.Tylertown led on several occasions in the second half, but theirturnovers would sink the Chiefs down the stretch.

Lee watched as Clayton Conerly led all scorers with 17 points.Jaqus Pittman pumped in 11 points for the Chiefs.

Tylertown outrebounded Brookhaven 31-26, but committed 23turnovers with 14 coming in the second half.

Ole Brook, coached by Ronald Hines, got a balanced scoringattack that was led by Chad Hall with 11 points, 6 rebounds and 2steals. Desmond Arnold, Keenan Richardson and Frank Taylor each had10 points. Seth Shannon dished out 3 assists. Richardson had 4steals.

The Panthers shot 45 percent from the floor (19 of 42) and 60percent (15 of 25) from the free throw line. The Chiefs counteredwith a 42 percent clip (19 of 45) from the field and 25 percent (3of 12) from the charity stripe.

North Pike 55, Port Gibson 45

The host Lady Jaguars (1-0) were powered by Brittany Patterson’s13 points. Tempest May followed with 11 points for Head Coach LanceGolman.

The Lady Wave (0-1), coached by Harold Liggins, got a game-high19 points from Shannon Johnson. Eugena Grigsby pumped in 14.

Port Gibson 100, North Pike 71

The Blue Wave (1-0) were led by Dominique Ratliff and JamariousSykes with 19 points apiece. Johnny Washington had 12 and JammieWashington tossed in 10 points.

Phillip McCray led all scorers with 33 points for North Pike.Albert Matthews followed with 26 points.