The hosts Brookhaven Panthers captured their first Division 6-4Awin of the basketball season Friday night with a 52-35 win over theMendenhall Tigers in Sinclair Gymnasium.

In the varsity girls game, the Lady Tigers staged a bigsecond-half comeback to knock off the Lady Panthers 68-49.

In the junior varsity boys game, Brookhaven crushed Mendenhall46-35.

Brookhaven hosts division foe Port Gibson Friday for a pair ofvarsity games. The girls begin play at 6 p.m. followed by theboys.

Brookhaven 52, Mendenhall 35

The Panthers led the Tigers 16-14 in the first quarter.Second-quarter action saw Brookhaven go on a 13-6 run and carry a9-point, 29-20, lead in at the half.

Going into the final frame, Brookhaven led 38-30 before going ona 14-5 run to secure the win and avenging an overtime loss atMendenhall.

“Defensively, we came out and did a good job,” said Brookhavenhead boys basketball coach Ronald Hines after the win. “We shot theball well early. It’s good to win and get on the right track.”

With the win, the Panthers improved to 1-7 in the division and9-11 on the season. The Tigers, coached by James Turner, fell to5-10 on the season and 1-8 in division action.

Time spent at the charity line was decisive. Brookhaven made 15of 26 from the free throw line. Mendenhall didn’t shoot a freethrow.

Donaldmetric Blue powered the Panthers with 10 points. LeoGarrett fired in 9 points followed by Marcus McGee with 8 points.Blue was 5 of-8 from the free throw line and McGee was 4 of-6.

Leading Mendenhall with 9 points was Rick Tilmon. Jarred Tilmonfinished with 8 points.

Mendenhall 68, Brookhaven 49

The Lady Panthers (8-11, 3-6) led the Lady Tigers (10-5, 5-3)21-18 in the first quarter and 32-26 at halftime.

In the second half, Mendenhall outscored Brookhaven 21-14 in thethird quarter and 21-3 in the final frame to take the win.

“We couldn’t make our free throws,” said Brookhaven girls coachFreda Craft. “We were 50 percent (17-35). Mendenhall shot welltonight. They rebounded well.”

Directing the Lady Panthers with a game-high 24 points wasKearra Collins. Tiakara Kelly and Amber Dickey added support with 7points apiece.

The Lady Tigers, coached by Mandy Patterson-Colen, were led byTiffany Sims with 19 points. Raven Hubbard netted 15 points.Josalyn Sullivan followed with 11 points.

GIRLS

Mendenhall 68, Brookhaven 49

Mendenhall (68) Tiffany Sims 19, Raven Hubbard 15, JosalynSullivan 11, Robinson 8, J. Norwood 7, T. Williams 6, Bullock2.

Brookhaven (49) Kearra Collins 24, Kelly 7, Dickey 7, Burnett 6,Benson 4, Hill 1.

Total fouls: Mendenhall 19. Brookhaven 13. Fouled out-Robinson,Bullock. Technicals-None.

Free throws M-A: Brookhaven 17-35. Mendenhall 18-23.

3-point goals: Mendenhall 4 (Williams 2, Sullivan, Norwood).Brookhaven 4 (Collins 2, Dickey, Kelly).

BOYS

Brookhaven 52, Mendenhall 35

Mendenhall (35) Rick Tilmon 9, Jarred Tilmon 8, Dudley 6,McCullom 5, Lindrey 3, Brent 2, Woodard 2.

Brookhaven (52) Donaldmetric Blue 10, Garrett 9, McGee 8, Taylor7, Johnson 6, Stewart 5, Fairman 2, Hall 3, Gibson 2.

Total fouls: Mendenhall 19. Brookhaven 8. Fouled out-None.Technicals-None.

Free throws M-A; Brookhaven 15-26. Mendenhall 0-0.

3-point goals: Mendenhall 8 (R. Tilmon 3, Dudley 2, J. Tilmon 2,Lindrey). Brookhaven 3 Blue, Stewart, Taylor).