East Rankin one win from Overall crown

Southern Sports & Travel, By Darron Thomas

The East Rankin Lady Patriots have held down the number one ranking in AAA for most of the season and this afternoon they can close out a remarkable season with the ultimately prize, the Overall Championship and the Gold Ball that goes with it. Brooke Rhodes poured in 31 points to lead East Rankin to a 51-35 semi final win over Brookhaven on Friday afternoon to propel the Lady Patriots into the title game against Pillow.
Brookhaven grabbed two early leads, Anna Mangold’s jumper from the free throw line put the Lady Cougars up 2-0. Following a Brooke Rhodes jumper that tied the game at 2-2 Mangold hit one of two free throws for a 3-2 advantage but for Brookhaven that would be their last lead as East Rankin got rolling. Rachel Knight drained an 8 foot jumper from the baseline coupled with 11 first quarter points from Rhodes as the Lady Patriots finished the opening quarter outscoring Brookhaven 15-6 to take a 17-9 lead.

(Above) Kaitlyn Coghlan (#25) of East Rankin drives past Laura Beth Wright of Brookhaven
East Rankin stretched their lead to 25-11 on a 10 foot jumper from Brooke Rhodes halfway through the second quarter. The Lady Patriots maintained a fourteen point lead to close out the half on top 28-14.
Brookhaven appeared to be on the brink of getting blown out as East Rankin pushed their lead to 36-18 following a Rhodes 3-pointer from the wing at the 4:51 mark but the Lady Cougars got themselves back into the game by finishing the quarter with a 14-4 run to close the gap to 40-32 after three quarters of play.
Terah Winborne’s assist to Anna Mangold pulled Brookhaven to within six at 40-34 to start the final quarter but East Rankin answered with nine straight points (7 from Rhodes) to extend their lead to 49-34 with 2:21 left in the game. East Rankin spread the court and ran the clock en-route to a 51-35 win.

(Above) East Rankin's Brooke Rhodes (#23) drives for two of her game high 31 pts

Brooke Rhodes led East Rankin with a game high 31 points, Kaitlyn Coghlan added 12, Rachel Knight 6 and Brianna May 2.
East Rankin improves to 34-2 and will battle Pillow today at 1:00 pm for the Overall title.
For Brookhaven Anna Mangold had 17 points, Terah Winborne 14 and Laura Beth Wright and Mary Lindsey Magee 2 apiece.
Brookhaven finishes their season with a 31-6 mark.

ER...17...11...12...11...51
BA....9....5....18....3...35