Mars Hill used a strong start to take control and then held off a late Brooks rally to defeat the Lions 80-67 in boys basketball action Thursday night.

Tyler Swinea got the Panthers going early, hitting a 3-pointer and converting a three-point play. Swinea scored eight total points in the first period and Ethan Smith added six off the bench as Mars Hill opened a 26-11 lead.

Brooks trimmed the margin to 47-34 at halftime and 60-53 after three periods. The Lions trailed by only six early in the fourth period before Mars Hill put it away at the free-throw line.

Drew Black led Mars Hill (7-2) with 17 points, followed by Joe Wilson with 12, Harrison Chastain with 11 and Landon Willis with 10.

Jack Singletary led Brooks (5-2) with 20 points. Holden Corum added 13, while Skyler Beck scored 11 and Jacob Richardson had 10.

n Sheffield 65, Clements 51: Shaquille Carroll poured in 18 points and Hunter Danley added 17 in Sheffield’s victory. Simon Ridgeway chipped in with 11 points and Eric Yarbrough added 10 for the Bulldogs.

Clements led 18-13 after the first quarter but Sheffield outscored the Colts 39-24 in the second and third quarters to take control.

n Colbert Heights 61, Cherokee 41: Kaleb Suggs finished with 24 points and 15 rebounds to power Colbert Heights past Cherokee.

Tynan Rea added 11 points for the Wildcats (5-4). Dylan Harris paced Cherokee with 13 points.

n Phil Campbell 47, Hamilton 43: A strong third period proved to be the difference for Phil Campbell as the Bobcats edged Hamilton.

Jacob Ayers came off the bench to hit back-to-back 3-pointers to put Phil Campbell up 39-32 entering the final period.

Colton Vickery and Skeeter Benford led Phil Campbell (8-3) with 12 points each.

n Lawrence County 67, Wayne County 45: Wayne County managed just one point in the first period as Lawrence County took an 18-1 lead and cruised to the victory.

Zack Risner and Sawyer Ray scored 11 points each for Wayne County (4-7). Parks Hartsfield led Lawrence County (7-2) with 14 points.

n R.A. Hubbard 60, Shoals Christian 55: The Chiefs outscored Shoals Christian 21-11 in the final quarter for the win.

Austin Beasley led the Chiefs (2-0) with 16 points and seven rebounds, while Tevin Ray added 12 points, six rebounds and five steals.

Daniel Wood led the Flame with 16 points. Mitchell Boyd scored 13 points and Will Bishop had 12.

n Phillips 64, Lynn 44: The Bears (6-1) opened with a win over Lynn in the North Alabama Conference tournament at Marion County.

Rodney Camp led the Bears with 16 points, while Tyler Crumpton added 14.

Girls

n Mars Hill 45, Brooks 36: Mars Hill used some clutch free-throw shooting in the final period to claim a victory over Brooks.

The Panthers led 22-17 at halftime but saw Brooks trim the margin to 28-26 after three periods. Mars Hill then made 11 of 15 at the line in the final period to seal the win.

Tatyana Rutherford was 4 of 4 at the line in the final period and finished with 12 points to lead Mars Hill (8-1). Erin Jewell paced Brooks with 12 points.

n Wayne County 50, Lawrence County 40: Wayne County pulled away in the fourth period to earn a win at Lawrence County.

The Wildcats led 23-15 at halftime before being outscored 16-10 in the third period, trimming their lead to 33-31. But Wayne County was able to regroup and put it away in the final minutes.

Stacey Creecy led Wayne County (4-6) with 15 points. Kalie Wayne paced Lawrence County with 10 points.

n R.A. Hubbard 49, Shoals Christian 40: Alexandria Gholston scored nearly half the of Chiefs points in a nine-point victory over Shoals Christian.

Gholston scored a game-high 24 points, dished out seven assists and grabbed six rebounds for the Chiefs (2-0), who led 28-15 at the half. Oresha Sherrod chipped in with 14 points and 11 rebounds.

Makenzie Gillis scored 16 points and Callie McLaughln added 15 for SC.

n Clements 81, Sheffield 28: Daneshia Malone reached the 3,000 career-point milestone, pouring in 22 to lead the Colts past Sheffield.

Somerlyn Orick and Tyzia Pride each had seven points to lead Sheffield.

n Brilliant 58, Hackleburg 55: Abby Lolley scored a game-high 16 points, Katlyn Adams added 15 and Kristen Camp chipped in with 13 points and 14 rebounds for Hackleburg (3-4), but Brilliant emerged with the win.