MONTICELLO — Brookhaven swept LawrenceCounty in a boys-girls basketball  doubleheader Tuesday night, wrappingup two full days of action in the Cougar Classic at LCHS.

    In an incredible finish, Freda Craft’s Lady Panthers edged the hostLady Cougars by a score of 50-47.  The finish in the boys’ game wasalmost as exciting, with Preston Wilson’s Panthers ultimatelyprevailing, 77-72. 

    In other games involving area teams, Puckett’s girls defeated theLoyd Star Lady Hornets by a 44-36 count, and the Enterprise girlsdominated East Marion, winning 50-24.  In junior varsity boys’ action,Enterprise defeated Puckett.

Brook 50, Lawrence 47

    Perhaps the highlight of the 2-day, 16-game tournament was thefinish of the Brookhaven-Lawrence County girls’ game.  After the two teams battled back andforth, exchanging the lead over the final 3 minutes, LawrenceCounty held a 47-46 lead, and the basketball, with seven secondsleft in the game. 

    Not only did the Lady Cougars have the ball, they were throwing itin from underneath their own basket, the full length of the courtfrom the Lady Panthers’ hoop.  However, Brookhaven’s Christen Bensonstole the inbounds pass and flipped it to teammate FrederickaFairman, who streaked down the court and laid the ball in with 1.1seconds remaining in the game.  It was a most unlikely victory, andone that avenged a 12-point loss to the Lady Cougars just threenights earlier.

    “I’m just so proud our girls found it within their hearts to playso hard,” Craft said. “Lawrence County is always a hard game for us.  Our girls really wanted it.”

    Tiakara Kelly scored 20 points, and Shareeka Hill added 14 for theLady Panthers, who improved to 6-3 on the young season. 

    Coach Vicki Rutland’s Lady Cougars were led by Brittany McDuffey,who had 15 points.  TaylorBrister added 14, and Mary Margaret McLaurin had 11.

      Brister’s second-halffoul trouble was a major blow to Lawrence County.  The senior sparkplug collected herfourth foul with 6:31 left in the third quarter, and sat out theremainder of that period. She fouled out with 27 seconds left in the game.

    “It was a heart-breaking ending,” Rutland said.  “The very worst thing that could havehappened in those last seven seconds-did.  That said, I thought our girls playedawfully hard and are continuing to improve.  We’re turning the ball over too much,but the effort is tremendous.”

Brook 77, LCHS 72

    The boys’ game had considerable drama of its own.  Ole Brook led by as many as 11 pointsin the final 4 minutes of the game, only to see the homestandingCougars come all the way back to take the lead.  Lawrence County senior David Haynesspurred the comeback, and it was his basket that put LCHS ahead71-69, with 1:33 left in the game. 

    At that point, Brookhaven’s Khalil Newton took over, scoring thePanthers’ next 6 points to turn a 71-69 deficit into a 75-72lead.  Ole Brook sealed thegame with two Fred Trevillion free throws.

    “They made a run,” said Wilson, whose Panthers improved to 7-2. “Iwas proud of the way my guys were able to fight back and regain themomentum after their run.”

    Newton led Brookhaven with 20 points.  Jemere Wilson and Alvin Franklinadded 13 points each.

    Pat Bridges’ Lawrence County team fell to 5-3 with theloss.  Haynes led LCHS with20 points.  Brandon Danielsadded 18, and Juan Williams had 18.

Puckett 44, Loyd Star36

    In Loyd Star’s loss to Puckett, senior center Tyrisha Patterson ledthe Lady Hornets with 16 points, 13 rebounds and 1 blocked shot.Marcey Givens grabbed 10 rebounds and made 4 assists. Maggie Reddblocked 3 shots and Natalie Smith made 5 assists. Meagan Givens had5 rebounds and 4 assists.

    “We had too many turnovers,” said Loyd Star coach Billy Vaughn.”Puckett was aggressive. We have to do a better job protecting theball.”

    Center Kelley Allen scored 8 of her team-high 14 points in thefourth quarter. Courtney Osler had 11 points.

Enterprise 50, E. Marion24

     Enterprise (4-3) got 16points from center Veonka Sanders and 12  from Caroleah Brister in its blowoutof East Marion. On the backboards, Sanders had 19 rebounds and 3blocked shots.

    Brister made 7 steals and Hannah Moak made 6. Brittany Moak had 5boards.