On Tuesday night, Brookhaven picked up a pair of non-divisionwins over Division 6-4A rival Port Gibson. The Lady Pantherssqueaked by the Lady Blue Wave of Port Gibson 43-41. The Panthersgot a game-high 19 points from Lamar Hall to defeat the Port GibsonBlue Wave 63-48 in James A. Sinclair Gymnasium.

Brookhaven travels to Claiborne County Friday for the Division6-4A test, at Port Gibson. The 2-game set tips off at 6 p.m. withthe varsity girls game.

The Lady Panthers (11-11) and Port Gibson were both slow comingout of the starting gate, as evident by the 6-2 Brookhaven lead atthe end of the first quarter.

The Lady Blue Wave, coached by Harold Higgins, authored a 13-8second period to take a 1-point advantage, 15-14 at theintermission.

Higgins serves as the video coordinator for the WNBA’s HoustonComets, during the late spring and summer months.

Brookhaven worked on their inside game with 10 of their 12 thirdquarter points coming in the paint from post players Ayana Tillmanand Anna Autman. The Lady Panthers trailed 31-26 entering thefourth frame.

“We were trying to work the low-post game,” said Brookhaven headcoach Billy Holmes.

Several ties and lead changes highlighted the final stanza. TheLady Panthers were able to secure the win when a last-second,3-point attempt by Port Gibson bounced off the rim as timeexpired.

Tillman led all scorers with 14 points, 18 rebounds and 3blocked shots. Autman followed with 12 points. Shameka Gilmore had8 rebounds and 3 steals. Brianna Patton had 4 assists and TiffanyWatkins dished out 3 assists.

Brookhaven overcame 26 turnovers and dominated the boards overPort Gibson 38-13.

Amina Palmer paced the Lady Blue Wave with 11 points.

The Panthers (18-3) used their suffocatingdefense to claim a 13-4 lead heading into the second quarter. TheHall brothers, Lamar and Jasper, combined for 11 points in theperiod.

Brookhaven continued their mastery of the paint, taking a 30-15lead into the halftime locker room. The Panther defense held theBlue Wave to just 3 first half-field goals.

Port Gibson, coached by Kim Windham, outscored Brookhaven in thethird period. Blue Wave Carl Jones sacked 3 treys in the period.Along with a basket by Ryan Hedrick, Windham’s ballclub stilltrailed 39-26 entering the fourth quarter.

The Blue Wave mounted a furious rally in the final 8 minutes,using some clutch outside shooting and pressure defense. Jones’strey with under 4 minutes left on the clock cut the Panther lead to4 points, 41-37. Jones led Port Gibson with 16 points.

Brookhaven, coached by Ronald Hines and Dan Presley, went on a23-11 run to end the game.

“We had some trouble breaking their defense in the second half”,said Hines.

Lamar Hall also grabbed 10 rebounds to lead the Pantheroffensive. Dexter Middleton followed with 8 points and 5 rebounds.Rodney Daniels dished out 3 assists and had 3 steals. Jasper Hallhad 4 assists. Phillip Tobias had 6 rebounds.

Brookhaven was minus the services of senior point guard BrandonCaston who did not play due to illness.