MONTICELLO – Brookhaven swept a varsity double-header from Lawrence County in high school basketball action Friday night at LCHS. Preston Wilson’s Panthers had a banner night, romping past the host Cougars by a 71-26 score. The girls’ game was more competitive, but Ole Brook prevailed again, with Freda Craft’s Lady Panthers clawing out a 51-42 victory.

The Brookhaven boys were dominant. In beating LCHS at Brookhaven, three weeks earlier, the Panthers had scored the first 14 points of the game. On Friday, Lawrence County took a 2-0 lead on a Gabriel Lewis basket just seconds into the game. After that, Ole Brook went on a 32-2 run, and the Panthers never looked back.

“We set the tone defensively,” said Wilson. “We managed to gain control early, with some baskets off of steals. It’s good that we were able to play a lot of people. We needed to see some of guys step up before we get into the division battles next week.”

Wilson’s Panthers improved to 12-4 on the season. Division play will begin for BHS at Natchez this Friday. On Tuesday, Brookhaven will host South Pike in a non-division contest, beginning at 6 p.m.

Fred Trevillion came off the bench to lead Brookhaven with 17 points. Lonnie Lenior added 10 points. Fifteen different Panther players scored in the game, as Wilson was able to substitute liberally.

Lawrence County got eight points from freshman center Keyshawn Feazell and six points from Keith Davis. Pat Bridges’ Cougars fell to 4-11 on the season.

LCHS will travel to Terry for a non-division contest on Tuesday and will host Purvis on Friday, in the division opener for both schools.

In the first meeting between the Brookhaven and Lawrence County girls, the Lady Panthers needed a last-second put-back from Fredericka Fairman to eek out a 2-point win over LCHS. With the Lady Cougars’ lone returning starter – senior center DaKendra Collins – felled by a knee injury, the Lawrence County girls are pretty vulnerable right now. Ole Brook took advantage, cruising to a fairly comfortable win.

Only five Lady Panthers scored in the game. Chantel Quarles led with 14 points. Jessica Wilson added 12 points, and Kynitria Hill reached double figures with 11 points. Fairman and Diamond Herring each had seven points.

Deneisha Dickson directed the Lady Cougars with 11 points. Latasha Rhodes added nine points, and Haven Johnson scored eight points.

The BHS Lady Panthers improved to 9-6 with the win. Vicki Rutland’s Lady Cougars fell to 3-15 on the season.