Games are not won or lost in the first half of contests, but they can certainly help propel you to a victory. Tonight against Forest Hill, Hattiesburg used a strong first half on both ends of the court to defeat the Lady Patriots 54-39 and advance deeper into the playoffs.

"We wanted to set the tone. Just watching them we knew they would be physical, but they weren't accurate inside, so we focused on defending straight up and rebounding well, then running loose and pounding the ball inside like we normally do," said Hattiesburg head coach Caronica Jackson.

The Lady Tigers scored the opening basket and never relinquished the lead as four different players scored baskets in the opening period, led by senior Melyia Grayson with six points on three field goals. Chloe Thompson ended the period with a corner three to put Hattiesburg up 16-7 after the first period.

In the second period, the Lady Tigers continued to clamp down on defense, allowing just six points in the period while Grayson put another six points on her stat line. Thompson also scored a field goal and Stinson connected on a free throw attempt to end the first half with the Lady Tigers leading 25-13.

Out of the first half break, Forest Hill closed the gap, outscoring the Lady Tigers 14-11 in the quarter, going on a 9-2 run midway through to end the period down 36-27.

Hattiesburg shut the door on Forest Hill in the fourth and final period as a couple of quick baskets from Stinson put the Lady Tigers up double-digits once again. Six more points from Grayson, along with free throws from Dakiyah Lewis sealed the victory for the Lady Tigers 54-36.

Hattiesburg is set to showdown next Saturday with Brookhaven, a game many have been anticipating.

"As far as that game goes, I told our girls the deeper in the playoffs we go, it gets tougher. Brookhaven is a good team. I was able to watch them live a whole back. They have a Dandy Dozen, a D-1 player going to Ole Miss, and they are physical. It will be a heck of a game, but we are going to go in there and fight for it like we did tonight," said Jackson.

Hattiesburg and Brookhaven are set for a 5:30 p.m. tip-off.