Southern Sports & Travel, By Darron Thomas
The table appeared to be set for a close battle for the South AA State Championship on Saturday afternoon between Brookhaven and Bowling Green. The two squads had played a razor thin district tournament championship game one week ago in Columbia and after Brookhaven center Anna Mangold went down with an ankle injury in a Friday win over Prairie View the buzz was that this game could go either way. Brookhaven broke open what had been a close game through the first six minutes of the opening quarter to win 42-22 to capture the South State AA Championship. 
(Above) Brookhaven's Anna Mangold (#33) shoots over Caroline Haik (#10) of Bowling Green
Bowling Green took the early lead when Whitney Crowe served up an assist to Beth Reedy nearly two minutes into the quarter. Brookhaven got on the board on their next possession as sophomore guard Terah Winborne drained a 3-pointer from the wing to put the Lady Cougars on top 3-2. Whitney Crowe’s driving basket at the 4:23 mark gave Bowling Green a 4-3 lead but that would be their last as Brookhaven finished the first quarter in typical form with a 13-2 run culminating on a Winborne basket at the buzzer to give the Lady Cougars a 16-6 lead after one quarter of play.
Second ranked Brookhaven extended their lead to 18-6 to start the second quarter on an Anna Lofton steal and lay-in. Bowling Green cut the deficit to single digits at 20-11 on two Caroline Haik free throws at the 1:57 mark but Brookhaven closed out the half with free throws from Laura Beth Wright and an offensive rebound and put back from Terah Winborne for a 24-11 advantage.
(Above) Anna Lofton (#10) of Brookhaven on a fast break with Bowling Green's Brittany Cooper (#4) trailing
Brookhaven quickly increased their halftime lead to 29-11 to start the third quarter as Terah Winborne hit a 3-pointer from the corner and then canned two free throws on the next possession. Bowling Green put together a run in the last two minutes of the quarter. Mackayla Dykes nailed a 3-pointer from the wing at the 1:55 mark and went glass on a drive on the Lady Buc’s next possession to cut the lead to 29-16. With 8 seconds remaining in the quarter Dykes hit another basket that completed a 7-0 run and pulled Bowling Green to within eleven points at 29-18.
Brookhaven halted the Bowling Green run with six straight points to start the final quarter. Anna Mangold saw limited action due to the ankle injury she suffered on Friday night but hit two baskets to start the fourth quarter and Anna Lofton’s lay-in put Brookhaven up 35-18 with 3:15 left in the game. Brookhaven closed out the game with an Anna Mangold free throw for a 42-22 final.
(Above) Laura Beth Wright (#21) of Brookhaven surveys the Bowling Green defense
“I thought this was our most intense game of the year,” said Brookhaven head coach Barry Gray. “The injury to Anna Mangold on Friday night made us refocus. We took better shots and had better passes today and I thought Anna Lofton did a great job on both ends.”
Terah Winborne led Brookhaven with a game high 16 points, Anna Lofton added 10, Laura Beth Wright 8, Anna Mangold 6 and Haley Langston 2.
For Bowling Green Mackayla Dykes had 10 points, Caroline Haik had 6, Beth Reedy 4 and Whitney Crowe 2.
Brookhaven improves to 28-4 overall and secures the south #1 seed heading into the AA State Tournament. The Lady Cougars will enjoy a first round bye and will take on the winner of the Marshall/Prairie View game to be played Tuesday.
Bowling Green falls to 25-9 and will face third ranked Kirk in round one action on Tuesday.
(Above) Brookhaven's Anna Mangold (#33) shoots over Caroline Haik (#10) of Bowling GreenBowling Green took the early lead when Whitney Crowe served up an assist to Beth Reedy nearly two minutes into the quarter. Brookhaven got on the board on their next possession as sophomore guard Terah Winborne drained a 3-pointer from the wing to put the Lady Cougars on top 3-2. Whitney Crowe’s driving basket at the 4:23 mark gave Bowling Green a 4-3 lead but that would be their last as Brookhaven finished the first quarter in typical form with a 13-2 run culminating on a Winborne basket at the buzzer to give the Lady Cougars a 16-6 lead after one quarter of play.
Second ranked Brookhaven extended their lead to 18-6 to start the second quarter on an Anna Lofton steal and lay-in. Bowling Green cut the deficit to single digits at 20-11 on two Caroline Haik free throws at the 1:57 mark but Brookhaven closed out the half with free throws from Laura Beth Wright and an offensive rebound and put back from Terah Winborne for a 24-11 advantage.
(Above) Anna Lofton (#10) of Brookhaven on a fast break with Bowling Green's Brittany Cooper (#4) trailingBrookhaven quickly increased their halftime lead to 29-11 to start the third quarter as Terah Winborne hit a 3-pointer from the corner and then canned two free throws on the next possession. Bowling Green put together a run in the last two minutes of the quarter. Mackayla Dykes nailed a 3-pointer from the wing at the 1:55 mark and went glass on a drive on the Lady Buc’s next possession to cut the lead to 29-16. With 8 seconds remaining in the quarter Dykes hit another basket that completed a 7-0 run and pulled Bowling Green to within eleven points at 29-18.
Brookhaven halted the Bowling Green run with six straight points to start the final quarter. Anna Mangold saw limited action due to the ankle injury she suffered on Friday night but hit two baskets to start the fourth quarter and Anna Lofton’s lay-in put Brookhaven up 35-18 with 3:15 left in the game. Brookhaven closed out the game with an Anna Mangold free throw for a 42-22 final.
(Above) Laura Beth Wright (#21) of Brookhaven surveys the Bowling Green defense“I thought this was our most intense game of the year,” said Brookhaven head coach Barry Gray. “The injury to Anna Mangold on Friday night made us refocus. We took better shots and had better passes today and I thought Anna Lofton did a great job on both ends.”
Terah Winborne led Brookhaven with a game high 16 points, Anna Lofton added 10, Laura Beth Wright 8, Anna Mangold 6 and Haley Langston 2.
For Bowling Green Mackayla Dykes had 10 points, Caroline Haik had 6, Beth Reedy 4 and Whitney Crowe 2.
Brookhaven improves to 28-4 overall and secures the south #1 seed heading into the AA State Tournament. The Lady Cougars will enjoy a first round bye and will take on the winner of the Marshall/Prairie View game to be played Tuesday.
Bowling Green falls to 25-9 and will face third ranked Kirk in round one action on Tuesday.
BA...16...8...5...13...42
BG....6...5....7....4...22
