Guard Portia Dickey provided the Brookhaven Lady Panthers with asolid performance Tuesday night, leading her team to a 50-28 winover visiting Lawrence County in Sinclair Gymnasium. Dickey scored11 points as Ole Brook raised its record to 13-14 overall and 7-2in the Division 6-4A race.

In the varsity boys game, Lawrence County won a defensivestruggle, beating the Panthers 48-42, directed by Laquez Smith’s 13points.

Brookhaven resumes play Friday night at Mendenhall whileLawrence County visits Florence for division action. Ole Brookhosts the division tournament Feb. 13-17.

The Lady Panthers got off to a slow start sohead coach Billy Holmes replaced his starting quintet with someeager reserves who brought energy to the floor. They broke an 8-8deadlock in the first quarter and led 17-13 at halftime.

“We have to stop playing lazy basketball and play harder,” saidDickey. “We need to win Friday night. Everybody is playing harderin practice.”

Dickey got the second half momentum going in her team’s favorwith a short jumper and a driving layup. Ole Brook led 21-16 andnever looked back as Dickey scored 8 third-quarter points.

“Portia plays hard every game and is a leader for us,” saidHolmes. “Our starting group wasn’t focused. Our other kids wantedto play.”

Holmes watched backup point guard Jermecia Jones and reservepost Whitley Shannon come off the bench to score 8 points apiece.Jones also had 4 assists.

Blanche Wilson contributed 5 steals and 4 assists to thevictory. Nikki Byrd had 5 rebounds and 4 steals.

The Lady Cougars (6-14, 2-7) continued rebuilding underfirst-year head coach Vicki Rutland. Fiere Brown led the team with8 points. Jenika Walton had 9 rebounds.

LCHS struggled with 37 turnovers. Ole Brook had 20 steals and 17turnovers. The Lady Panthers held a 25-22 rebounding edge.

The Panthers (6-21, 2-7) slowed the pace in aneffort to cool Lawrence County’s high-octane offense. They led theCougars 7-6 at the quarter but trailed 19-12 at halftime.

“It was a defensive struggle,” said LCHS head coach Bobby Lee.His team received a police escort to the team bus after thegame.

Smith pumped in 3 treys for the Cougars (15-5, 7-2) who wererebounding from a Friday night road loss at Port Gibson. Seniorpost Craig Tyler chipped in 10 points, 11 rebounds and 5 blockedshots. Kelvin Rogers added 10 points, 7 rebounds and 6 blockedshots.

“We have to play slow and be patient,” explained Ole Brook boyscoach Ronald Hines. “We don’t have the depth to run and press.Lawrence County has a good team.”

Hines watched his team author a strong, 21-point fourth quarter.The Panthers reduced a 14-point, 35-21 deficit to 4 points, 44-40,on a trey by Terrance Perkins from the top of the key, with 36seconds left to play.

Tyler, a powerful 6-foot-5 post player, responded with 2 freethrows and a short jumper to secure the win.

Sophomore guard Charles (Bobo) Rancifer directed the Pantherswith 21 points and 21 rebounds. Simmie Yarborough had 4 reboundsand Jerome Avery made 4 assists.

Junior Varsity Action

In the preliminary JV boys game, Lawrence County cruised to a61-36 victory, powered by Jason Williams with 14 points. PerryWells added 10 points.

Keith Richardson got 11 points for Ole Brook. John Martin Davishad 8 points.