The Brandon Lady Bulldogs had 20-20 vision Tuesday night inSinclair Gymnasium. Ole Brook’s Dandy Dozen twin towers SwayzeBlack and Nikki Black combined for 41 points, as the No. 4-rankedLady Panthers held off a stubborn-Brandon team 63-52.

Byrd followed with 20 points, 9 rebounds, 3 blocked shots and 3steals.

Brandon guard Rod Melvin tossed in a game-high 30 points, tolead the unbeaten Bulldogs to a 73-66 win over the BrookhavenPanthers.

Brandon posted a 45-42 win in the JV boys game.

Brookhaven continues play in the Brookhaven Invitational. TheLady Panthers await the NW Rankin/West Lincoln girls winnerThursday at 7 p.m. The Panthers will meet the NW Rankin/WestLincoln loser Saturday at 2:30.

Brookhaven 63, Brandon 52

The Lady Panthers (4-1) had some early trouble with Brandon’spressure defense. Ole Brook continued their charity stripe woes;missing 6-of-9 in the opening period. A 19-11 lead by Brookhavenwas realized heading into the second frame.

The Lady Bulldogs (4-1) were outscored 15-5 in the second andtrailed 34-16 at halftime. Brandon, coached by Paul Hayden, wasnearly able to look eye-to-eye with their counterparts.

“We are still learning,” Coach Hayden said. “When we step off ofthe bus, we must be ready to play.

“We can either do or die now,” Hayden told his team in thehalftime dressing room. “We can get whooped or make a game ofit.”

Apparently, Hayden’s strategy nearly worked in the second half.The Lady Bulldogs outscored Ole Brook 37-29 in the final 16minutes. The closest Brandon would get was 5 points at 47-42, on abank shot off the left wing by DeAndra Howard.

Black and Byrd would combine for 9 points in the final minutesfor secure the win.

“We have not quite made it yet,” said Lady Panther head coachFreda Craft. “We are getting better.

“We have to be more consistent in free throw shooting,” saidCraft, whose ballclub shot 36 percent (12 of 33) from the freethrow line.

Neither team shot the ball well, with each shooting under 40percent from the field. Brookhaven outrebounded Brandon 35-31.Brandon lost the turnover battle 30-25.

Lending support for Ole Brook was Kayla Harris with 7 steals and5 assists. Jermecia Jones dished out 2 assists.

Kiana McCarty led the Lady Bulldogs with 13 points and 3 steals.Reshonda Dantzler followed with 12 points and 7 rebounds. JoncyeeSanders had 4 steals and 4 assists.

Brandon 73, Brookhaven 66

The Bulldogs (5-0) continued their unbeaten ways, by using theirdefense to jump-start their offense. Brandon, coached by formerMcComb assistant Eric Barnes, scored 36 points off of 29 Panthermiscues.

“Our defense is our offense,” said Coach Barnes. “We try toforce turnovers, to make up for our lack of height at the 5Alevel.”

That philosophy seemed to work for Barnes’ Bulldogs throughoutthe night. They kept stepping in the passing lanes for steals;converting them into layups or free throws. Brandon shot 78 percent(25 of 32) from the free throw line on the night.

Brandon led 17-14 entering the second stanza.

The Panthers (2-3) kept the game close behind the duo of SimmieYarborough and Charles Rancifer. Down by as many as 14 points,Rancifer’s crisp passing and Yarborough’s relentlessness on theoffensive boards gave Ole Brook a fighting chance. Foul trouble andturnovers down the stretch were too much to overcome.

Yarborough led head coach Ronald Hines’ Panthers with 23 points,10 rebounds and 2 assists. Rancifer added 14 points, 2 steals and 4assists. Terrance Perkins had 2 steals. Ole Brook held the edge offthe boards 25-22.

Both teams shot 46 percent from the field.

In the JV boys game, Kenyada Wallace led allscorers with 19 points for Brandon. Marcellos Blanding tossed in11.

Brookhaven got 10 points from Jay Stewart.