Brookhaven looked primed to deliver a knock out punch early as they raced out to a quick 7-2 lead less than two minutes into the first quarter, but Bowling Green answered with a Jaron Edwards 3-pointer from the top of the key and at the 5:23 mark Colton Owens tied the game at 7-7 on a break away dunk. The remainder of the opening quarter produced five lead changes. Two Edwards free throws gave Bowling Green a slim 14-13 advantage heading into the second quarter.
(Above) Jake Reed (#11) of Brookhaven tries to advance the ball late in the game with Jaron Edwards (#10) and Dean King of Bowling Green pressing.
Jamison Powell’s tip in to start the second quarter put the Cougars back on top at 15-14 as the lead continued to sway back and forth. Shod Fortenberry answered with a strong basket in the paint for Bowling Green at the 6:03 mark but back came Brookhaven on a Jake Reed 3-pointer from the wing to give Brookhaven an 18-16 lead. With the Cougars holding a slim 19-18 lead Jake Reed finished the half with a basket plus one off an offensive rebound and then two free throws following a Bowling Green turnover to send Brookhaven into the halftime break with their biggest lead at 24-18.
Brookhaven threatened to break the game wide open to start the third quarter as four different players scored the first nine points to put the Cougars up 33-18. Following a Sidney Chaffin 17 foot jumper that gave Brookhaven a 39-25 lead Bowling Green closed out the third quarter with a 6-1 run to close the deficit to nine points at 40-31.
Jake Reed’s left hander off the glass started the final quarter and pushed the Brookhaven lead back to double digits at 42-31. Bowling Green could get no closer than nine points until the four minute mark of the quarter. Dylan Varnado’s assist to Jaron Edwards kept the Buccaneers within striking distance at 45-37. After both teams traded a free throw Bowling Green pulled to within four points at 46-42 on two Edwards free throws and a Shod Fortenberry offensive rebound and put back with 2:04 left in the game. Bubba Keene went glass for Brookhaven on the next possession for a six point cushion at 48-42. After both squads traded turnovers Dylan Varnado tipped in a missed shot to pull Bowling Green back to 48-44 with 1:14 remaining in the game. 
(Above) Jamison Powell (#3) of Brookhaven looking for options in the first half
Jake Reed was fouled in the backcourt but missed the front end of a one-and-one and Bowling Green capitalized as Shod Fortenberry canned a close range bank shot with 59 seconds left to bring the score to 48-46 in a deafening Columbia Academy gymnasium. Brookhaven freshman Will Hickman replaced an injured Jamison Powell and was fouled on a break away lay-up attempt but Hickman missed on both attempts, giving Bowling Green possession with 51 seconds showing on the clock.
Mack McElveen’s shot attempt to tie the game was short but Bowling Green maintained possession with 37 seconds left after Brookhaven lost the ball out of bounds on the rebound attempt. Bowling Green turned the ball over on the inbounds pass and Brookhaven called timeout with 30 seconds remaining. A Brookhaven shot attempt was blocked by Shod Fortenberry and the ball was knocked out of bounds last touched by the Cougars giving Bowling Green another possession. During that last possession Brookhaven fouled Bowling Green’s Russell Perry, sending him to the free throw line with 4.6 seconds remaining. Perry missed the first free throw and canned the second to make it 48-47. Jamison Powell was fouled immediately on Brookhaven’s in bounds pass, sending him to the free throw line with 3 seconds left. Powell sank one of two free throws and Bowling Green’s long shot attempt at the buzzer fell short to close out a wild Brookhaven 49-47 win.
Jake Reed led all scorers with 20 points, Jamison Powell added 14, Bubba Keene had 7, Sidney Chaffin 6 and Brock Smith 2.
Shod Fortenberry led Bowling Green with 15 points, Jaron Edwards added 11, Colton Owens 8, Dylan Varnado and Mack McElveen had 4 each, Russell Perry 3 and Dean King 2.
Bowling Green falls to 23-8 with the loss and will take on River Oaks in the first round of the South AA Tournament next week.
Brookhaven will play WCCA.
BG...14....4....13..16..47
