PORT GIBSON — Brookhaven’s Whitley Shannon tossed in a game andcareer-high 19 points to lead the Lady Panthers to a resounding60-36 Division 6-4A win over the Port Gibson Lady Wave Fridaynight.

In the varsity boys game, Panther senior forward SimmieYarborough drained a short jumper with under 10 seconds left in thegame as Brookhaven escaped Port Gibson with a 56-54 win over theBlue Wave.

Brookhaven travels to Florence Friday and Mendenhall Saturdayfor a pair of Division 6-4A tests.

Brookhaven 60, Port Gibson 36

Shannon, a 6-foot senior forward, also had 8 rebounds, 2 assistsand 4 steals.

“We played very well tonight,” said Brookhaven head coach FredaCraft. “Whitley had a good game.”

The Lady Panthers (21-3, 7-1) found the early going tough, asthe Lady Wave kept the game close; despite trailing 17-12 enteringthe second quarter. Ole Brook would promptly go on a 28-4 run overthe next 16 minutes to take a 45-18 lead into the final stanza.

Port Gibson, coached by Harold Liggins, trailed 32-14 at thehalftime break.

Lending support for the Lady Panthers was Ashley Gayten with 13points, 8 rebounds, 4 assists and 3 steals. Dandy Dozen guardSwayze Black had 10 points, 12 rebounds, 2 assists and 5 blockedshots. Dandy Dozen center Nikki Byrd had 9 rebounds, 3 assists, 4steals and 2 blocked shots.

The Lady Wave (7-14, 2-7) was led by Lilly Porter with 11points.

Brookhaven 56, Port Gibson 54

The Panthers (11-14, 4-4) moved into sole possession of thirdplace in the division race behind Forest Hill and McComb. PortGibson (11-11, 4-5) fell to the No. 4 spot with the loss.

Brookhaven head coach Ronald Hines’ ballclub employed aspread-the-floor offense in the first half. Several minutes ran offthe clock at different intervals. Ole Brook entertained a 14-5 leadat the end of the first quarter.

Port Gibson, coached by Kim Windom, began to attack Brookhavenon the defensive end, and cut the deficit to 26-15 at halftime.

Windom’s team took a brief 50-47 lead with under 4 minutes lefton the clock, with a basket by Dominique Ratcliff. As the advantageseesawed several times in the waning moments, it would beYarborough’s basket that would seal the Panthers win.

“We played hard tonight,” said Coach Hines following the game.”We were able to pull them out of their defensive set.”

BHS senior forward Charles (Bobo) Rancifer led all scorers with20 points and 5 assists. Yarborough and Chad Hall each tossed in 11points. Yarborough had 5 rebounds and 2 steals.

The Blue Wave got a team-high 18 points and 8 rebounds fromKadeem Fleming.