RIDGELAND — The Brookhaven Lady Panthers trailed by as many as13 points for over 3 quarters against the Greenville Honey Bees. A22-7 fourth quarter rally by Ole Brook carried the Lady Panthers toa 59-57 win Saturday afternoon in the Ridgeland Classic.

In the varsity boys game, poor shooting doomed the BrookhavenPanthers, as they fell to the Greenville Hornets 53-46.

Brookhaven continues play in the Hattiesburg Holiday Classic,Dec. 26-29. Brookhaven takes on Magee Wednesday afternoon andHattiesburg Friday night. Tournament play concludes Saturday withthe Lady Panthers playing North Forrest, while the Panther’sopposition will be Brandon.

Brookhaven 59, Greenville 57

The Lady Honey Bees (6-7), coached by Curtis Stovall, used theirguard’s dribble-penetration to their advantage. Combined with sometimely outside shooting by guards Breanna Lewis and MarchettaParker, Greenville held leads of 11-10 after one period and 34-25at the intermission break.

Greenville shot a sizzling 14 of 25 (56 percent) from the fieldin the opening half, while the Lady Panthers managed a 38-percentclip (11 of 29). Lewis had 21 of her game-high 30 points in theopening half, with 17 coming in the second frame.

Stovall saw his ballclub continue to keep Brookhaven at bay, asevidence by their 50-37 advantage entering the final stanza. Parkerhad 10 of her 18 points in the third.

The Lady Panthers (13-1) turned up the heat in the final 8minutes, as their full-court pressure defense would carry theiroffense. Numerous Greenville passes were either thrown away orpicked off by Ole Brook.

The Honey Bees had an opportunity to take the lead, trailing58-57 with under 20 seconds left in the game.

No pass picked off was bigger than junior forward AshleyGayten’s steal with 17 seconds left in the game. Kyla Winford wastrying to find Parker alone underneath the Greenville basket. Outof nowhere, Gayten picked off the pass like a defensive back.

BHS senior center Nikki Byrd sacked 1 of 2 free throws with 6ticks on the clock.

“We got after them in the fourth quarter,” said Ole Brook headcoach Freda Craft. “We finally woke up then.”

Black led the Lady Panthers with 19 points, 12 rebounds and 2steals. Byrd followed with 15 points, 8 rebounds, 3 blocked shotsand 2 steals. Gayten registered 12 points, 5 rebounds and 4 steals.Brookhaven won the rebounding battle 32-29.

The Honey Bees committed 21 turnovers, compared to 14 by OleBrook.

Greenville 53, Brookhaven 46

The Panthers (5-9) shot 37 percent (16 of 43) from the field inthe game. Ole Brook had several chances to convert some keysbaskets, but were unable to knock down high-percentage shots.

The Hornets (8-5) carried a 12-6 lead into the second quarter,but trailed 25-23 at halftime. Brookhaven rallied behind a 19-11second-quarter spurt.

Greenville, coached by Ernie Watson, outscored the Panthers30-21 in the second half. During several sequences, the Hornetsrealized double-digit advantages.

Brookhaven, under the direction of Ronald Hines, attempted torally in the final stanza. Several turnovers and missed basketsallowed the black-and-gold clad Hornets to garner the win.

The Panthers got a game-high 16 points and 7 rebounds fromsenior forward Charles (Bobo) Rancifer.