MCCOMB – Day 2 of the McComb Coca-Cola Holiday Tournament sawBrookhaven drop a pair of games to South Pike. The Lady Eaglesslipped past the Lady Panthers 57-56 Tuesday, as Ole Brook wasunable to convert free throws down the stretch. The Panthers shotunder 33 percent from the floor in the second half and the Eaglescame away with a 63-55 win.

Brookhaven concludes tournament play today at 12:30 p.m. againstMoss Point (girls) and the boys meeting Denham Springs (La.) at2.

South Pike 57, Brookhaven 56

The Lady Panthers (4-9) were looking to build on Monday’s 55-41win over North Pike. Ole Brook crept out to a 9-4 lead after oneperiod.

The Lady Eagles (7-3) would respond with a 23-16 second periodand claim a 27-25 lead at halftime. South Pike, coached by MarcusFlippin, claimed the advantage despite shooting a horrid 27 percent(9 of 33) from the floor in the opening 16 minutes.

The second half was a see-saw battle with several deadlocks andlead changes. Entering the final stanza, South Pike and Brookhavenwere tied at 42-all.

Ole Brook jumped out to a 49-42 lead with 4:16 left in the gameon baskets by Precious Patterson (2), Maleysia Burnett and a freethrow from freshman center Carey Crozier.

South Pike fought back to claim a 51-50 lead on a 2-pointer byguard Ladestina Gorden. Both teams would swap the advantage for thefinal three minutes. Flippin’s team took the lead for good at 53-51with 47 seconds left on a basket by Raven Ashley.

Brookhaven was unable to connect from the charity stripe in thewaning moments, with the last chance coming at the 16-secondmark.

“We need those free throws down the stretch,” said Brookhavenhead coach Freda Craft. “We need to be more consistent.”

Ashley led South Pike with 15 points, 5 rebounds, 3 assists and4 steals. The Lady Eagles shot 38 percent (16 of 42) from the fieldand 62 percent (23 of 37) from the free throw line. They committed12 turnovers.

Kearra Collins led Ole Brook with a game-high 19 points; alongwith 5 rebounds, 6 assists and 2 steals. Sophomore guard TiakaraKelly and Precious Patterson tallied 12 points apiece.

The Lady Panthers committed 17 turnovers, and only got 3 pointsfrom their bench.

South Pike 63, Brookhaven 55

The Panthers (10-2) appeared to be on the verge of a blowoutearly in the first quarter, jumping out to a 10-0 lead in the first4 minutes of the game. Junior center Fred Fairman (4 points),Fabian Gibson and Kristoff “Bob” Bates (3 points each) sparked therun for head coach Preston Wilson.

The Eagles (9-2) countered by taking advantage of severalBrookhaven turnovers to trail 14-12 entering the second, and weredown 27-25 at halftime.

The game went back and forth during the initial moments of thesecond half, realizing a 34-all deadlock on a free throw byBrookhaven’s Keith Johnson with 1:47 left in the third. South Pikegot a pair of free throws from Trelyn Pounds moments later, for alead that they never relinquished; taking a 40-36 cushion into thefourth.

Trevosity Ellzey paced Head Coach Joe Taylor’s Eagles with 15points, 5 rebounds and 4 steals. Pounds added 13 points and 11rebounds. DeAngelo Coleman had 10 points and 6 assists.

Fairman paced Brookhaven with 17 points and 6 rebounds. RossHill had 12 rebounds. Bates had 12 points and 8 assists.

Both teams shot under 40 percent from the McComb High gym floor.The Eagles held advantages in rebounding (36-34), second chancescoring (10-4) and bench scoring (20-12).