An estimated 400 fans assembled in Sinclair Gymnasium witnesseda great start to the 2001 Brookhaven/Coca-Cola Classic Wednesdaynight. All three games were very close, despite what the scores mayindicate.

The McComb-Hazlehurst girls tipped off the evening’s activitiesand the Lady Tigers narrowly escaped the Lady Indians 36-35. In theboys game, the McComb Tigers held off a stubborn Loyd Star Hornetteam 65-59.

Lincoln County rivals Loyd Star and Bogue Chitto closed out thetripleheader with a girls contest. The Lady Hornets were successfulin a 50-36 win over the Lady Bobcats in their first meeting of theseason.

Today’s action in the Classic continues with 3 games on tap. TheHazlehurst girls meet the Bogue Chitto girls in a losers bracketgame at 5 p.m. The Hazlehurst Indians take on the Bogue ChittoBobcats in a first-round contest at 6:30. The Brookhaven LadyPanthers meet the Loyd Star Lady Hornets in a semifinal game at8.

McComb 36, Hazlehurst 35

It went right down to the wire. Neither tam obtainedmore than a 5-point lead throughout the 32-minuteaffair.

McComb (20-2) led 14-11 after one period and 16-13 atthe intermission. Hazlehurst (14-10) had the 32-29 advantageentering the final quarter.

The Lady Tigers, coached by Carolyn Whitehead, claimedthe lead for good at 36-33 on a short jumper by MeMe Perkins.Hazlehurst countered with a layup by Victoria Richardson to bringthe Lady Indians within 1 point, 36-35.

Both teams had opportunities to increase the scoring,but inconsistencies in free-throw shooting and missed field goalswould not fall.

Sheree Thompson,a 5-foot-10 Dandy Dozer seniorguard/forward, led McComb with 19 points. Lotoya Johnson pacedHazlehurst with 11 points.

McComb 65, Loyd Star 59

The Tigers held a distinct height advantage over theHornets. McComb 6-foot-9 sophomore center Jackie Butler blocked 10shots in the game. He altered several Loyd Star shots but theHornets showed no fear of the Tigers.

Loyd Star (7-10) fought back from several large deficitsto make a game of it. The Hornets were down 14-10 at the end of thefirst quarter and 24-17 going into the halftime lockerroom.

McComb held a 53-42 lead at the end of thethird.

Loyd Star battled back behind the torrid shooting ofSeth Britt and Demarcus Barnes. Britt pumped in 23 points andpulled down 8 rebounds. Barnes added 15 points and 9 rebounds. TheHonets hit 9 treys in the game.

“We played with them despite their height advantage.”said Hornet head coach Gene “Moochie” Britt. “We rebounded prettygood.”

Carlos Weathersby led McComb with 23points.

Loyd Star 50, Bogue Chitto 36

The Lady Hornets used their stifling defense to score onthe Lady Bobcats. Loyd Star used their quickness in running thefast-break offense for the 14-point margin of victory.

“We did not shoot the ball very well,” said Bogue Chittogirls head coach Mickey Myers.

Bogue Chitto only shot 12-for-60 from the field. TheLady Bobcats were down 15-6 after one period and 28-16 at halftime.Loyd Star continued its dominance, leading 38-24 entering the finalstanza.

“We wanted to contain their (Bogue Chitto’s) outsideshooting,” said Lady Hornets head coach Lori Britt.

Christie May led the Lady Hornets with 14 points and 11rebounds. Moncia Townsend had 8 points, 9 rebounds and dished out 3assists. Beck Smith had 7 rebounds.

Randi Moak led Bogue Chitto with 14 points.

@Bbstandings:GIRLS

Loyd Star 50, Bogue Chitto 36

Loyd Star (50) Christie May 16, Townsend 8, J. Henderson5, Coke 2, Scroggs 4, L. Smith 8, H. Britt 1, Gilmore 1, Brown 1,Beck Smith 4.

Bogue Chitto (36) Randi Moak 14, Ratcliff 7, McGary 2,Drummond 9, Hatten 2, Shaw 2.

Total fouls: Loyd Star 15. Bogue Chitto 14. Fouledout-None. Technicals-None.

Free throws M-A: Loyd Star 7-16. Bogue Chitto9-14.

3-point goals: Moak 3. Townsend.

Bogue Chitto 6 10 7 13 – 36

Loyd Star 15 13 10 12 – 50

McComb 36, Hazlehurst 35

McComb (36) Sheree Thompson 19, Perkins 6, Patterson 6,Dillon 3, Wynne 2.

Hazlehurst (35) Latoya Johnson 11, Sandifer 9,Richardson 6, Collins 5, Williams 4.

BOYS

McComb 65, Loyd Star 59

McComb (65) Carlos Weathersby 23, Sibley 10, Allen 7,Butler 10, Carr 7, Pittman 8.

Loyd Star (59) Seth Britt 23, Barnes 15, Hunter 10,Calcote 5, J. Britt 7.

Total fouls: McComb 14. Loyd Star 9. Fouled out-None.Technicals-None.

Free throws M-A: McComb 7-11. Loyd Star5-10.

3-point goals: S. Britt 3, Hunter 2, Barnes 2, Calcote,J. Britt, Allen, Weathersby.

Loyd Star 10 7 25 17 – 59

McComb 14 20 19 12 – 65