Brookhaven’s basketball teams are riding a 2-game victory stringin Division 6-4A action. They took care of business Tuesday nightin Sinclair Gymnasium, sweeping the Mendenhall Tigers before anestimated crowd of 300.

The Lady Panthers edged Mendenhall 59-56, overcoming a 32-pointoutburst by Mendenhall’s Maleka Keys. The Panthers were 57-46winners over the Tigers, paced by Charles Rancifer and Chad Hallwith 13 and 12 points respectively.

Brookhaven resumes division play Friday night, hosting theMcComb Tigers. On Saturday, the Brookhaven Classic tips off inSinclair Gymnasium.

The Lady Panthers (18-3, 4-1) got a team-high 18 pointsand 11 rebounds from senior center Nikki Byrd. Senior forwardSwayze Black followed with 12 points and 9 rebounds. MaleshaBurnett added 11 points.

“Mendenhall surprised us with outside shooting,” saidBHS coach Freda Craft., “Number 14 (Keys) got a lot ofpoints.”

Keys, a 5-foot-7 forward, tossed in 6 treys. As a team,the Lady Tigers (12-4, 3-3) hit 8 shots from beyond thearc.

Craft saw her team outrebound Mendenhall 41-23. The LadyPanthers had 22 turnovers compared to Mendenhall’s 16.

“We kind of stood around on the rebounding,” said Craft.”Mendenhall did a good job blocking out. We had too manyturnovers.”

The Lady Panthers went on a 13-0 run in the second halfand forged a 50-37 lead on Black’s short jumper with 6:57 left toplay. The Lady Tigers had realized a 37-37 deadlock on a trey byTiffany Sims with 2:19 left in the third quarter.

Mendenhall coach Marilyn Coleman said her outsized squadcouldn’t keep up with Brook’s 6-footers. “Brookhaven could go overthe top. It will be a better game at our place.”

Coleman said Keys plans to enlist in the Army after shegraduates. She is the only senior on Coleman’s hustlingteam.

Keys and Kenekia Bullock both had 6rebounds.

The Panthers (9-13, 2-3) took a 25-18 halftime lead. BHScoach Ronald Hines said his young team is playing with moreconfidence.

“They understand how to play certain teams and they aregaining confidence,” said Hines. “We are getting into better shapewith our football players,” referring to Rancifer and SimmieYarborough who were late arrivals, plus Marcus McGee.

“Rebounding and turnovers have been a problem for us butSimmie and Charles are making us stronger,” saidHines.

Desmond Arnold provided the Panthers with 10 points and9 rebounds.

Mendenhall (4-13, 1-4), coached by James Turner, got 12points and 6 rebounds from Cordario McClain. Perry McDonald andDarren Rankin each had 5 rebounds.

The Panthers carried a 19-point, 47-28 lead into thefourth quarter. They went ahead 49-28 when guard Keenan Richardsonhit a jumper from near the top of the key.