The Brookhaven Panthers outscored Natchez 58-35 over the finalthree quarters; thus authoring a 77-45 blasting over the visitingBulldogs Thursday night in Sinclair Gym. The Natchez Lady Bulldogsheld off a stubborn Brookhaven Lady Panther ball club 49-45 in thesecond day of the Brookhaven Invitational Tournament.

It’s rivalry Saturday in the final day of tournament action.Pike County rivals South Pike and McComb get under way at 4 and5:30 p.m.; followed by Brookhaven and Lawrence County at 7 and 8:30p.m.

Natchez 49, Brookhaven 45

The Lady Bulldogs (2-2) jumped out to a 17-7 opening frame leadfor head coach Sue Johnson; behind a balanced scoring front.Brookhaven would answer in the second frame cutting their halftimedeficit to 24-19.

With the Lady Panthers trailing 42-29 with less than 5 minutesleft on the clock, Tiakara Kelly, a 5-8 senior, caught on fire. Herthree consecutive treys in a 15-7 run, pulled Brookhaven withinfour points with 14 seconds left in the game. Natchez was able torun out the clock to preserve the win.

“Even though we were down early, my girls did not quit,” saidLady Panther Head Coach Freda Craft. “We could not get our shots tofall at key points in the game.”

Kelly, along with freshman Fredericka Fairman, led all scorerswith 13 points apiece. Fairman also contributed 8 rebounds, 4steals and 3 assists. Senior Audora Hill had 5 rebounds and 5steals.

The Lady Panthers committed 24 turnovers to 18 by Natchez, andwere outrebounded 28-26.

Ashley Minor led Natchez with 12 points.

Brookhaven 77, Natchez 45

It took an early timeout by Brookhaven Head Coach Preston Wilson2 1/2 minutes into the game to get his Panthers going; trailing7-5. A 12-7 scoring spurt gave Wilson’s crew a 19-10 lead headinginto the second quarter and they never looked back.

“Glad to get the win, but we need to continue to get better,”Coach Wilson commented.

Fred Fairman, a slender 6-foot-8 senior center, led all scorerswith a game-high 21 points, 11 rebounds and 3 blocked shots. KeithJohnson had 13 points, 6 rebounds and 3 assists. Leo Garrett had 3steals, while Ryan Thibodeaux had 6 rebounds. Brookhaven held a42-21 edge in rebounding, but had 16 turnovers.

Natchez was led by Trevon Chapman with 14 points, for head coachMike Martin.