On Tuesday night, the Brookhaven Lady Panther and Panther basketball teams were looking to improve their statuses in Region 6-5A play. The Natchez girls and boys were the welcomed guest in Sinclair Gym, as both schools were jockeying for favorable position in the region standings.

In a game that was rescheduled from Friday night, the Natchez Lady Bulldogs and Brookahaven Panthers would each claim wins.

The Lady Bulldogs crushed the Brookhaven Lady Panthers 64-39, while the Panthers garnered the split with a 64-58 victory.

The region tournament is February 18-21 at Wingfield, in Jackson.

The Lady Panthers (11-9, 2-2)  were looking to avenge a 57-38 loss against Natchez on Jan. 10. Brookhaven head coach Freda Craft witnessed her team trailing 18-2 entering the second quarter, and facing a 30-15 deficit at halftime.

Craft’s crew committed 37 turnovers, while shooting a dismal 27 percent (14 of 52) from the field.

Jessica Wilson paced Brookhaven with 17 points and 5 rebounds. Chantel Quarles scored 8 points, followed by Kynitria Hill with 5 points, Diamond Herring with 4.

Other scorers included Fredericka Fairman with 3 points and Shoniece Smith with 2 points. Fairman was tops off the backboards with 6 rebounds. Fairman and Smith each had 2 steals.

Natchez (17-1, 4-0) is coached by Alphaka Moore.

The Panthers (18-5, 4-0),  coached by Preston Wilson, continue their winning ways. Brookhaven was powered by a 15-10 first stanza, which turned into a 34-20 cushion at the intermission break.

“We played a strong first half, holding Natchez to 20 points,” commented Wilson.

Natchez (12-8, 2-3), coached by Mike Martin, attempted to make a comeback in the second half, outscoring the Panthers 38-30.

“Natchez controlled the tempo in the third to cut into the lead,” said Wilson. “Shon Blackwell hit some clutch free throws down the stretch. Darrian Wilson and Khalil Newton came up big for us ”

Newton led Brookhaven with 13 points, 4 rebounds and 2 blocked shots. Lazorian McNulty tossed in 12 points and had 2 steals. With 10 points each were Darrian Wilson (6 rebounds) and Tavis Moore (4 rebounds, 2 blocked shots).

Other scorers include Shaquan Richardson with 8 points, Blackwell with 6, Fred Trevillion with 3 and Damarius Brooks with 2.

Newton, Moore, Wilson, Richardson and Brooks had 3 assists apiece. The Panthers had 18 turnovers and shot 50 percent (23 of 46) from the floor.

Brookhaven hosts region foe Pearl River Central Friday night in Sinclair Gym before closing out the regular season next Tuesday at region foe Wingfield in Jackson.