PEARL – Pearl’s Dandy Dozen senior guardTwymond Howard made Senior Night at Pearl a most memorableevent.  The UTEP signee’splay in the second half was monumental for the Pirates, scoring 18of his game-high 30 points.  Howard’s team realized a 70-51 Region6-5A win over the Brookhaven Panthers Friday night in Pearl.

    Howard also had 8 rebounds, 8 assists and 6 steals as he seemed totake over the game in the second half.

    The Pearl Lady Pirates opened the doubleheader with a 56-49 winover the Brookhaven Lady Panthers in the regular-season finale forboth teams, avenging an earlier loss at BHS.

    Brookhaven will host the Region 6-5A Tournament Tuesday and Fridayin Sinclair Gymnasium.  OnTuesday, the No. 3-seed Lady Panthers open tournament play at 4p.m. against No. 2-seed Pearl.  The No. 3-seeded Panthers play No.2-seeded Wingfield at 8:30.

    Other opening round games include boys No. 1-seed Pearl meeting No.4-seed McComb at 5:30, followed by girls No. 1-seed McComb takingon No. 4-seed Wingfield at 7.

    The winners of all four games advance to the finals on Friday, andare guaranteed an opening round game in the South State 5Atournament on Feb. 20-21.

Pearl 56, Brookhaven49

    The Lady Panthers (14-12) were minus head coach Freda Craft, whowas unable coach her team, due to a death in herfamily.  Under thedirection of boys head coach Preston Wilson, Brookhaven gave aspirited effort on both ends on the floor.

    Leading by as many as 7 points throughout the night, Wilson hadglimpses of what could have been a victory.  But turnovers and poor decisionmaking down the stretch cost the Lady Panthers a win, heading intothe region tournament.

    “We played well in the first half,” Coach Wilsoncommented.  “Turnovers gotus in the second half.  Wehave to take better care of the basketball.”

    The Lady Pirates (10-12, 3-3), coached by Tracy Yates, tookadvantage of numerous Brookhaven miscues and converted them intobaskets in transition.

    Pearl trailed 15-13 after one period, but forged a 26-23 advantageat the intermission break. Brookhaven took a 41-36 lead into thefinal frame, but was outscored 20-8 in the decisive fourthstanza.

    Tenazhia Hinkson led all scorers with 16 points for Pearl, followedby Alexis Giles with 11 points and Kaelin Kersh with 10.

    The Lady Panthers got 11 points and 6 rebounds apiece fromFredericka Fairman and Shareeka Hill.  Fairman had 3 steals.  Christen Benson dished out 2assists.    

Pearl 70, Brookhaven51

    Much like the girls game, the Panthers (18-8, 2-4) played anexcellent first half, managing a 27-25 halftime lead.

    The game was deadlocked at 15-all heading into the secondquarter.

    Second half turnovers began to show up, as Pearl took advantagewith a 22-11 third quarter.  The Pirates (24-3, 6-0), coached byRussell Evans, forged a 47-38 cushion; entering the final 8minutes.

The Panthers never recoveredafterwards.

    Factoring into the loss was the play of Pearl’s  Twymond Howard. Coach Evans also got14 points from guard Tre’ Harvey and 11 points from D.J. Thompson;a Dandy Dozen football player and USM signee.

    “We got caught up in the game in the second half,” saidWilson.  “Turnovers (25)hurt us down the stretch run.”

    Wilson got 23 points and 8 rebounds from Ross Hill.  Dennis Jordan had 8 rebounds and 3assists.  Khalil Newtonhanded out 3 assists, while Glenn Buie had 6 rebounds.