The Crystal Springs Lady Tigers gave head coach Danielle Busby aspecial gift Wednesday night; upsetting the No. 5-ranked BrookhavenLady Panthers 53-51 in the opening night of the BrookhavenInvitational Tournament.

In the boys game, the Crystal Springs Tigers narrowly escapedSinclair Gym with a 79-77 double-overtime thriller over theBrookhaven Panthers.

In other tournament play, the Provine Rams smashed the Amite CountyTrojans 97-68. The Provine girls were a last-minute withdrawal.

Tournament action continues this afternoon with 3 games, beginningat 4 p.m. with the Crystal Springs/South Pike girls. At 5:30, theCrystal Springs boys meet Amite County. The Brookhaven boys tanglewith the Dexter Bulldogs at 7. The Lady Panthers’ game with Collinswas canceled.

Crystal Springs 53, Brookhaven 51

The Lady Tigers (3-1) dropped a 64-62decision to Thomastown Monday night. Crystal Springs missed 10 freethrows in the loss.

“We were not intimidated by their height,” Busby said as shecelebrated her birthday with her ballclub. “Coming off the losslast night, our girls did the little things that they needed towin.”

Brookhaven (4-1) held early leads of 12-10 after one period and22-21 at the halftime break.

“We did not come ready to play,” said Lady Panther head coach FredaCraft. “We missed too many free throws and had too manyturnovers.”

The Lady Panthers never trailed by more than 5 points in the game.A pair of free throws by Crystal Springs’ Latasha Nichols proved tobe the final margin victory.

Nichols led the Lady Tigers with 19 points with Roykei Adamstossing in 17 points.

Ole Brook got a game-high 20 points, 10 rebounds, 4 steals and 4assists from senior forward Swayze Black. Center Nikki Byrd added19 points and had 2 assists. Ashley Gayten grabbed 9 rebounds.

C. Springs 79, Brookhaven 77 (2OT)

It took a pair of extra sessions todecide the outcome. A 5-to-9 point range would be the largestadvantage for either team through the 40-minute gala. The charitystripe became the deciding factor in the game.

Neither team lit up the scoreboard in the first half. CrystalSprings and Brookhaven both shout under 35 percent from the field.The Tigers would lead 16-11 entering the second quarter, 23-22 atthe intermission break and 43-37 heading into the fourthquarter.

In the extra sessions, free throws became the difference in thegame. Tiger guard Jaquerio Tillman sacked 2 free throws with 3seconds left in the second overtime. Brookhaven’s last second shotfell short as head coach Broderick Owens celebrated the win withhis Tigers.

“We came out a little flat, but we hung in there to win,” saidOwens, following the game. “We did what it took to get thevictory.”

Tillman placed the Tigers with 21 points, 5 steals and 3 assists.Jamaal Tobias and Kenardis Hillard pumped in 12 points apiece. JoshHollins had 11 points and 10 rebounds. Following with 10 points and10 rebounds was Marcus Norwood.

Ole Brook got a game-high 31 points, 9 rebounds and 7 assists fromsenior forward Charles Rancifer. Sophomore forward Marcus McGeescored a career-high 15 points and pulled down 6 rebounds, alongwith 4 steals and 2 assists.

“We missed too many free throws down the stretch,” said Panthershead coach Ronald Hines whose team was 15 of 38 from the free throwline. “We played hard tonight. We just couldn’t get over thehump.”

The two team s combined for 93 free throws and 65 fouls a game thatlasted nearly 2 hours, 30 minutes.

Provine 97, Amite County 68

The No. 2 ranked Rams (4-1) were led by Dandy Dozen senior guardScottie Haralson with 19 points. Center Emery Kelly followed with18 points. Jalen Cortney and Stedman Laury each pumped in 12 pointsfor head coach Luther Riley.

The Trojans (2-2) got a game-high 212 points from Justin Patterson.Stephen Patterson added 13 points with Nick Magee scoring 12points. Amite County is under the direction of Josh Knight.