Guard Precious Patterson helped provide the Lady Panthers with aprecious victory Friday night in Sinclair Gymnasium. The juniorplaymaker scored a field goal and two free throws in the secondovertime, lifting BHS to a hard-fought 52-50 victory over McComb’sLady Tigers.

It was the second straight Friday night for the Lady Panthers(7-15, 2-1) to salvage an overtime victory on their home flooragainst a division foe. They had defeated West Jones a week earlierin OT.

“Precious stepped up for us tonight,” said BHS coach FredaCraft. “She’s become a leader for us and we need her at pointguard.”

Craft watched her team battle McComb to a 42-42 deadlock at theend of regulation. BHS senior guard Kearra Collins, who scored 15points and grabbed 8 rebounds, had fouled out with 14 seconds leftin regulation.

A near-capacity crowd packed the gym and watched the two teamsbattle in a helter-skelter Class 5A showdown. They combined for 69turnovers, 37 by BHS. The hosts held a 35-32 reboundingadvantage.

“Our girls played hard and they wanted to win,” said Craft. “Ouroffensive game is improving.”

In the first overtime, guard Tiakara Kelly accounted for a treyand a short field goal, scoring all of Brook’s points as the4-minute session ended in a 47-47 knot.

Kelly finished with 15 points and 7 rebounds. Cary Crozier andMelaysia Burnett each had 6 rebounds. With 16 seconds left in thesecond overtime, Burnett hit a free throw to secure Brook’s finalmargin of victory.

“We lost the first half,” said McComb coach Angela Johnson. HerLady Tigers trailed 23-15 at halftime.

“We have to play like we did in the second half for fourquarters,” said Johnson.

McComb (11-9, 0-1) had beaten BHS 43-36 Nov. 21, in theBrookhaven Invitational. The Tigers will host BHS Tuesdaynight.

McComb got a game-high 22 points from Shanekqua Bibbs, a 5-8senior guard. Her last-second baseline drive bounced off the rim asregulation ended.

The Lady Tigers got 14 points from Kiearra Patterson, a 5-6junior guard.

@Bbstandings:

Brookhaven 52, McComb 50, 20T

McComb (50) Shanekqua Bibbs 18, Kiearra Patterson14, Dexter 5,Johnson 2, Miller 4, Earl 5.

Brookhaven (52) Tiakara Kelly 15, Kearra Collins 15, C. Benson3, Patterson 6, Burnett 3, D. Benson 4, Crozier 6.

Total fouls: McComb 22. Brookhaven 19. Fouled out-Collins.

Free Throws M-A: McComb 7-20. Brookhaven 15-38.

3-point goals: McComb 3 (Bibbs 3). Brookhaven 3 (Kelly 3).

McComb 5 10 17 10 5 3 — 50

Brookhaven 9 14 9 10 5 5 — 52