The final first round matchups of the Division 6-4A Tournamenttook place Tuesday night in Sinclair Gymnasium with three games.Winners advance to the semifinal round on Thursday, while thelosers concluded their long seasons.

In girls action, the No. 2-seed Terry Lady Bulldogs thrashed theNo. 7-seed Florence Lady Eagles 69-49. The Mendenhall Lady Tigers,seeded third, ran past the No. 6-seed Lawrence County Lady Cougars65-41.

In boys action, the No. 7-seed Brookhaven Panthers’ season cameto an end against the No. 2-seed Terry Bulldogs 65-48.

Thursday’s semifinals tip off at 4 p.m. with the Terry girlsagainst Mendenhall. The No. 1-seed Lawrence County Cougars take onMcComb at 5:30. The Brookhaven Lady Panthers, seeded No. 1, meetarch rival McComb at 7. The Terry boys battle Mendenhall at8:30.

Win or lose, all eight semifinalists play Friday, either in theconsolation or championship games. All eight teams advance to nextweek’s South Mississippi playoffs as the girls play Monday and theboys Tuesday.

Terry 65, Brookhaven 48

The Bulldogs (16-12) rained 3-point baskets throughout the nighton Ole Brook. Terry shot 67 percent (8 of 12) from behind the3-point arc on the night. Head coach Reginald Magee saw his teamlead 13-4 heading into the second quarter, and 28-16 at theintermission.

The Panthers (6-25) played Terry to a 13-13 deadlock in thethird period, but still trailed 41-29 entering the final frame.

“We did not practice patience in the early going,” said Pantherhead coach Ronald Hines. “Terry shot the ball good tonight.”

Magee’s Bulldogs placed four in double figures, led by TerencioPowell’s 17 points. Breelan Bryant pumped in 13, followed by MattFortson and Joe Willis with 11 points each.

Ole Brook was led by sophomore Charles Rancifer with 23 points,7 rebounds, 4 steals and 3 assists. Senior Jerome Avery tossed in11 points.

Terry 69, Florence 49

The Lady Bulldogs (15-11) were led by Chiquita Harrison with 21points. Ariel Dawkins added 10, while Amber Brown sacked 15 pointsfor head coach Bobby Coleman.

The Lady Eagles (3-25) got a game-high 25 points from TinishaMangum. Hope Moore tossed in 10 points.

Mendenhall 65, Lawrence Co. 41

The Lady Tigers (20-7) used a balanced scoring attack by placing5 players in double figures. Marlakia Keys pumped in 16 points.Shirrell Black followed with 15, while Tiffany Lawson added 12.Began Dancer had 11 and Duquesne Bickham 10 for Mendenhall, coachedby Archie Skiffer; who is in his final season at the SimpsonCounty-based school.

The Lady Cougars (6-18), under the direction of first-year coachVicki Rutland, got a team-high 16 points from senior center EricalBryant.