Highly-touted Pearl senior forward TwymondHoward didn’t have his A-Game going against the Brookhaven PanthersFriday night. Howard did manage to score  16 points, make 5 assists and grab 4rebounds, leading the Pirates to a 64-52 triumph in SinclairGymnasium. He had a pair of fourth-quarter dunks.

    Brookhaven (15-6, 0-3) shot the ball poorly and committed 30turnovers in the Region 5-5A showdown. The Panthers suffered 12turnovers in the decisive third quarter.

    Howard, a muscular 6-foot-6 player, signed early with UTEP(Texas-El Paso). He was averaging 26.4 points and 12.3 reboundsentering Friday’s game.

    Pearl coach Russell Evans shared his discussion with Howard duringthe game. “I told him it won’t be your best game every night. Justget in there and rebound and pass the ball to your teammates.”

    Often playing on the perimeter, Howard made several no-look passesto open teammates for easy baskets.  Teammate Justin McGilberry had 12points and 8 rebounds. Southpaw Tre Harvey had 11 points, 5 assistsand 4 steals.

    “We were lethargic to start the game,” said Evans. “We weren’tplaying very good defense. We have to work harder on ourdefense.”

    The Pirates (18-2, 3-0) are resting atop the region race. Theycould be seeded No. 1 in next month’s region tournament which willbe hosted by BHS. It starts Feb. 7.

    The Panthers, minus two starters since the Christmas break, aretrying to regroup. Point guard Jemere Wilson moved to the Delta andanother starter was ruled academically ineligible.

    Coach Preston Wilson’s team trailed Pearl 28-27 at  halftime, thanks to a last-second,half-court trey by Glen Buie. Ross Hill paced the Panthers with 16points and Buie netted 14.

    The large, partisan crowd anticipated a tight second half but Pearldominated the cold-shooting Panthers, building a 13 point, 48-35,third quarter lead.

    Wilson scanned the shooting chart and shook his head indisappointment. His Panthers were 3 of 8 in field goal shooting thethird quarter and 6 of 23 in the fourth.

    “We couldn’t get those easy baskets to fall and those turnoverskilled us,” said Wilson.

    On the backboards, Hill grabbed 8 rebounds and Dennis Jordan 5.

    The Panthers resume play Tuesday night at Class 6A Clinton.

Junior Varsity Results

    In the preliminary JV boys game, Pearl beat the Panthers 45-34. Tenpoints by Tavis Moore and 8 by Lonnie Lenoir led BHS inscoring.,