Leake wins fifth straight AA crown Southern Sports & Travel, By Darron Thomas
The State AA Championship game pitted a girls program at the pinnacle of their success against a young up and coming squad anxious to reclaim past glory. In the end experience won as the Leake Rebelettes beat Brookhaven 63-50 and claimed their fifth consecutive AA title. Emily Kea had a game high 18 points and freshman point guard Hannah Peoples overcame a severe ankle sprain suffered in the first quarter to score 15 points as the Rebelettes led from start to finish. 
(Above) Jenny Wilbanks (#22) of Leake alters the shot of Anna Lofton (#10) of Brookhaven
Leake sprinted out to an early 9-0 lead through the first two minutes of the opening quarter. Jenny Wilbanks hit a baseline jumper that got Leake on the board first. Jessi Powers canned a 3-pointer from the corner and Char’Lesa Tadlock scored on consecutive baskets for the early 9-0 run. Anna Mangold’s banker in the paint at the 5:49 mark and a Laura Beth Wright lay-in on the next possession made it 9-4. Leake answered with seven straight points, six from junior Jenny Wilbanks, to increase their lead to 16-4 with 2:55 left in the quarter. Brookhaven managed to close the gap to 16-9 on a Terah Winborne lay-in off a Leake turnover but an Anna Nowell 3-pointer from the corner closed out the quarter with Leake on top 19-9.
(Above) Leake's Emily Kea (#15) gets pressure from Mary Lindsey Magee (#32) of Brookhaven
Brookhaven wasted little time in cutting into the Leake lead at the start of the second quarter. Terah Winborne’s assist to Anna Mangold led off the quarter to trim the deficit to 19-11. Mangold connected again one minute later and Anna Lofton hit on one of two free throws as the Lady Cougars had pulled to within five points at 19-14. Following a Leake turnover Laura Beth Wright canned two free throws and Brookhaven was in striking distance at 19-16 with 4:43 left in the first half. Later in the quarter after two free throws from Hannah Peoples at the 1:02 mark gave Leake a 26-21 spread Brookhaven answered again as Terah Winborne hit a 3-pointer from the wing that would pull the Lady Cougars to 26-24 at the end of one half of play.
Brookhaven stayed within four points through the first five minutes of the third quarter but at the 2:56 mark Leake started to widen the gap. Hannah Peoples went baseline for a basket and following a Brookhaven turnover Emily Kea’s turnaround jumper from 12 feet gave Leake a 40-32 advantage with two minutes left. After Anna Mangold made one of two free throws with 28 seconds remaining Leake set up shop for a last shot attempt as the half was coming to a close. With time running out and no other open options Leake point guard Hannah Peoples hurled up a long 3-point shot that rang true to give the Rebelettes a 43-33 cushion heading into the final quarter.
(Above) Terah Winborne (#14) of Brookhaven on the receiving end of a loose ball
Leake moved out to their biggest lead of 47-33 on baskets from Emily Kea and Shelby Howard one minute into the fourth quarter. Brookhaven managed to cut the lead to twelve at 47-35 on a Laura Beth Wright offensive rebound and put back with 6:51 remaining in the game but the Lady Cougars couldn’t gain ground. Leake finished the final quarter hitting 10/14 free throws to take a 63-50 win.
Emily Kea led Leake with a game high 18 points, Hannah Peoples added 15, Jenny Wilbanks had 9, Char’Lesa Tadlock 7, Jessi Powers and Shelby Howard had 5 each and Kelsey Harvey 1.
For Brookhaven Anna Mangold had 15 points, Terah Winborne added 13, Laura Beth Wright 12, Mary Lindsey Magee 5, Summer Calhoun 3 and Anna Lofton 2.
With the win the five time state champions and defending overall champions improve to 35-2 and will take on the winner of the Jackson Academy/Claiborne game in next week’s overall tournament.
Brookhaven falls to 29-5 and will play Trinity.
(Above) Emily Kea of Leake had a game high 18 pts
(Above) Jenny Wilbanks (#22) of Leake alters the shot of Anna Lofton (#10) of BrookhavenLeake sprinted out to an early 9-0 lead through the first two minutes of the opening quarter. Jenny Wilbanks hit a baseline jumper that got Leake on the board first. Jessi Powers canned a 3-pointer from the corner and Char’Lesa Tadlock scored on consecutive baskets for the early 9-0 run. Anna Mangold’s banker in the paint at the 5:49 mark and a Laura Beth Wright lay-in on the next possession made it 9-4. Leake answered with seven straight points, six from junior Jenny Wilbanks, to increase their lead to 16-4 with 2:55 left in the quarter. Brookhaven managed to close the gap to 16-9 on a Terah Winborne lay-in off a Leake turnover but an Anna Nowell 3-pointer from the corner closed out the quarter with Leake on top 19-9.
(Above) Leake's Emily Kea (#15) gets pressure from Mary Lindsey Magee (#32) of BrookhavenBrookhaven wasted little time in cutting into the Leake lead at the start of the second quarter. Terah Winborne’s assist to Anna Mangold led off the quarter to trim the deficit to 19-11. Mangold connected again one minute later and Anna Lofton hit on one of two free throws as the Lady Cougars had pulled to within five points at 19-14. Following a Leake turnover Laura Beth Wright canned two free throws and Brookhaven was in striking distance at 19-16 with 4:43 left in the first half. Later in the quarter after two free throws from Hannah Peoples at the 1:02 mark gave Leake a 26-21 spread Brookhaven answered again as Terah Winborne hit a 3-pointer from the wing that would pull the Lady Cougars to 26-24 at the end of one half of play.
Brookhaven stayed within four points through the first five minutes of the third quarter but at the 2:56 mark Leake started to widen the gap. Hannah Peoples went baseline for a basket and following a Brookhaven turnover Emily Kea’s turnaround jumper from 12 feet gave Leake a 40-32 advantage with two minutes left. After Anna Mangold made one of two free throws with 28 seconds remaining Leake set up shop for a last shot attempt as the half was coming to a close. With time running out and no other open options Leake point guard Hannah Peoples hurled up a long 3-point shot that rang true to give the Rebelettes a 43-33 cushion heading into the final quarter.
(Above) Terah Winborne (#14) of Brookhaven on the receiving end of a loose ballLeake moved out to their biggest lead of 47-33 on baskets from Emily Kea and Shelby Howard one minute into the fourth quarter. Brookhaven managed to cut the lead to twelve at 47-35 on a Laura Beth Wright offensive rebound and put back with 6:51 remaining in the game but the Lady Cougars couldn’t gain ground. Leake finished the final quarter hitting 10/14 free throws to take a 63-50 win.
Emily Kea led Leake with a game high 18 points, Hannah Peoples added 15, Jenny Wilbanks had 9, Char’Lesa Tadlock 7, Jessi Powers and Shelby Howard had 5 each and Kelsey Harvey 1.
For Brookhaven Anna Mangold had 15 points, Terah Winborne added 13, Laura Beth Wright 12, Mary Lindsey Magee 5, Summer Calhoun 3 and Anna Lofton 2.
With the win the five time state champions and defending overall champions improve to 35-2 and will take on the winner of the Jackson Academy/Claiborne game in next week’s overall tournament.
Brookhaven falls to 29-5 and will play Trinity.
(Above) Emily Kea of Leake had a game high 18 pts.
Post game comments:
Leake head coach Doyle Wolverton
How did the injury to point guard Hannah Peoples affect the game early on?
“It affected us a whole lot. That’s one of the main catalysts we’ve used the last two years. To see her go down and all of a sudden that lead went from about 12 down to 4 was big. Of course, I was screaming hurry up and get her back in. I really didn’t know if she was going to be able to come back but she did and played good. Her ball handling down the stretch was important, she’s a tough gal.”
Were you pleased with the defensive play of your girls?
“I though they played really well today. I thought they played really well defensively because Brookhaven is an enormously good offensive team at pushing the ball down the floor. We had some turnovers but there were only three or four that we gave up lay-ups. The rest of our turnovers were either traveling or double dribbling which allows our defense to set up.”
What are your thoughts about the overall tournament next week?
“I tell our kids this all the time. You set your sights every year on a state championship and if you can get that…great. The overall is just another feather in the cap if it happens to come.”
Post game comments:
Leake head coach Doyle Wolverton
How did the injury to point guard Hannah Peoples affect the game early on?
“It affected us a whole lot. That’s one of the main catalysts we’ve used the last two years. To see her go down and all of a sudden that lead went from about 12 down to 4 was big. Of course, I was screaming hurry up and get her back in. I really didn’t know if she was going to be able to come back but she did and played good. Her ball handling down the stretch was important, she’s a tough gal.”
Were you pleased with the defensive play of your girls?
“I though they played really well today. I thought they played really well defensively because Brookhaven is an enormously good offensive team at pushing the ball down the floor. We had some turnovers but there were only three or four that we gave up lay-ups. The rest of our turnovers were either traveling or double dribbling which allows our defense to set up.”
What are your thoughts about the overall tournament next week?
“I tell our kids this all the time. You set your sights every year on a state championship and if you can get that…great. The overall is just another feather in the cap if it happens to come.”
LA...19...7...17...20...63
BA....9..15....9...17...50
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Reader comments:
Anonymous said...
The ladies from Leake did a great job. Hanna Peoples played with tons of courage and grit after she got hurt. We are proud of our ladies for a job well done. Good luck this week Rebelettes!!
The ladies from Leake did a great job. Hanna Peoples played with tons of courage and grit after she got hurt. We are proud of our ladies for a job well done. Good luck this week Rebelettes!!
