Overall semi finals are set
Southern Sports & Travel, By Darron Thomas

The first round of the 2010 Overall Tournament at Mississippi College in Clinton has concluded and with no doubt the biggest upset to come out of round one is Greenville Christian’s 60-53 win over Jackson Prep on the boy’s side of the bracket. The Saints entered the tournament under the radar and virtually unknown to many even though they won the Single-A Championship and have only one loss on their season mark. While five of their ten man roster consists of seniors the core of their team are underclassmen led by junior Harry Williams and the explosive play of sophomore Keldrek Young.
Most would consider Jackson Academy’s 66-61 win over defending Overall champion Leake an upset and to some degree some credence can be assessed to that argument but the Lady Raiders are very capable of winning the tournament. Jackson Academy has very good guard play to compliment a strong post game from senior Riley Busching. Defensively the Lady Raiders forced multiple turnovers early in the Leake game that set the tone for the remaining three quarters.
The Presbyterian Bobcats arguably put on their best performance of the season in totally dismantling State AA Champion Brookhaven 67-40. While Brookhaven fought early on to get into the game it was apparent that the Bobcats were playing at a different level. Presbyterian has the balance needed to win the Gold Ball on Saturday should they get past Greenville Christian. Their guards played nearly flawless basketball against Brookhaven and did a phenomenal job of setting the table for their big men.
Greenville Christian looked to be over-matched in the first quarter against Jackson Prep. GCS scored the first two baskets of the game for an early 4-0 lead but Prep shutout the Saints with an 18-0 run the remaining seven minutes of the quarter en-route to an 18-4 lead.

(Above) Greenville Christian's Harry Williams (#4) with a finger roll basket in the fourth quarter
Ever so slowly Greenville Christian started working themselves back into the game. Justin Leavy canned a 3-pointer from the corner to start the second quarter and following a Prep turnover Leavy’s pass to Keldrek Young led to a monster dunk from the baseline to trim the deficit to 18-9 at the 5:51 mark of the second quarter. The Saints pulled to within five points at 31-26 on another slam from Young with 12 seconds remaining in the half. Prep’s Brannon Morris hit two free throws to give the Patriots a 33-26 halftime advantage.
Jackson Prep pushed the lead to 35-26 on a Pack Toler basket to start the third quarter and kept Greenville Christian at bay throughout the first six minutes of the quarter. With Prep up 41-31 at the 1:44 mark Greenville Christian finished the quarter strong with a 9-2 run as junior Harry Williams scored nine of his game high 25 points in that short span. (Above) Gray Samson (#3) of Jackson Prep surveys the Greenville Christian defense
Williams picked up where he left off as the final quarter started. The junior canned two free throws to pull the Saints to within one point at 43-32 just twelve seconds into the quarter. Prep earned themselves some breathing room when Ben Lane hit a 3-pointer from the wing at the 6:30 mark to push the lead to 49-43 but the consensus in the building was that this game was going to be tight. Greenville Christian fired back with a Jonathan Griffin 3-pointer and a Mike Hardy floater in the lane to make it a one point game at 49-48. The Saints took their first lead since 4-0 when Harry Williams drained a 12 foot jumper at the 3:27 mark to put the Saints up 50-49. Jackson Prep regained the lead on their next possession when Pack Toler put back an offensive rebound plus one for a 52-50 Patriot lead with 2:52 remaining. Jackson Prep had no answer for Harry Williams as the junior’s assist to Jonathan Griffin tied the game at 52-52 and Williams put the Saints on top for good with a jumper just inside the top of the key with just over two minutes left in the game. Greenville Christian outscored Prep 8-3 the final two minutes including 6/6 from the free throw line en-route to the 60-53 upset. (Above) Pack Toler (#23) of Jackson Prep blocks a Harry Williams shot attempt
Harry Williams led Greenville Christian with a game high 25 points, Keldrek Young added 12, Justin Leavy 8, Jonathan Griffin 7, Jeremy Griffin 4 and Mike Hardy and TJ Hollins had 2 each.
Ben Lane led Jackson Prep with 11 points, Pack Toler had 9, Brannon Morris 7, Gray Samson and Thomas Dunbar had 6 apiece, Emmett Manning and Lawrence Martin 5 each and Cody McCain 4.
Greenville Christian improves to 36-1 and will take on Presbyterian in the semi final round on Friday while Jackson Prep ends their season with a 25-10 record. (Above) Brett Ball (#23) of Jackson Academy drives past Char'Lesa Tadlock of Leake
The Leake Rebelette’s defense of their Overall title has ended. Jackson Academy led from start to finish en-route to a 66-61 win to advance to the semi finals. The Lady Raiders forced four turnovers on Leake’s first five possessions as they jumped out to an early 6-2 lead midway through the opening quarter. Jenny Wilbank’s basket off a Hannah Peoples steal pulled the Rebelettes to within two points at 10-8 with 2:37 remaining in the quarter but Jackson Academy reeled off five straight points to go up 15-8 at the 1:29 mark. Emily Kea converted on two free throws with 7 seconds left as Leake ended the first quarter down 15-10. (Above) Jackson Academy center Riley Busching gets a shot over the fingertips of Emily Kea (#15) of Leake
Jackson Academy controlled the second quarter and while Leake managed to narrow the deficit to three points the Lady Raiders took a 30-24 lead into halftime on a Mackenzie Carmody lay-in at the buzzer.
Leake opened the third quarter with three consecutive turnovers as Jackson Academy built a ten point lead at 34-24. Leake junior Jenny Wilbanks hit one of two free throws and then connected on consecutive 3-pointers from the wing to make it a three point game at 34-31 but Jackson Academy withstood another Leake run as they pushed their lead back to 46-36 after an AJ Frazier 3-pointer from the wing at the 2:58 mark of the quarter. The Lady Raiders took a 48-40 advantage into the final quarter. (Above) Brett Ball (#23) led Jackson Academy with 23 points
Jackson Academy maintained no less than a five point cushion through the initial seven minutes of the fourth quarter. While things looked grim for Leake after Jenny Wilbanks fouled out with 2:16 remaining the Rebelettes mounted one final charge when Char’Lesa Tadlock hit a basket and then Hannah Peoples stole the inbounds pass and converted to make it 62-59 with 40 seconds remaining, but Jackson Academy did just enough at the free throw line in going 4/6 to preserve a 66-61 win and advance to the semi finals where they will face Pillow.
Brett Ball led Jackson Academy (24-9) with 23 points, Riley Busching added 18, AJ Frazier had 8, Mackenzie Carmody and Mady Dace had 6 apiece, Irby Taylor 3 and Mollie Blair 2.
Emily Kea had a game high 24 points to lead Leake, Jenny Wilbanks added 14, Hannah Peoples 11, Char’Lesa Tadlock 7, Jessi Powers 3 and Kelsey Harvey 2.
Leake finishes the season at 35-3. (Above) Hayden Eustachy (#1) of Presbyterian gets a shot over Sidney Chaffin (#33) of Brookhaven
The Presbyterian Bobcats punched their ticket to the semi final round with a shocking 67-40 blowout of Brookhaven. Presbyterian raced out to a 9-0 lead after four minutes of play and held a 13-6 lead after one quarter.
Presbyterian increased their lead to 26-13 following a Hayden Eustachy 3-pointer from the wing at the 3:47 mark of the second quarter. Sidney Chaffin of Brookhaven hit a 10 foot jumper plus one to make it 28-17 with 2:14 left in the half but the Cougars would get no closer as Presbyterian built a 33-19 lead by the half. (Above) Presbyterian guard James Akers (#5) with a first half up and under basket
Presbyterian quickly increased their lead to 36-19 on a Mitchell Moore 3-pointer and a Hunter Hawkins basket following a Brookhaven turnover. The Bobcats biggest lead of the quarter came on a Hayden Eustachy assist to Hawkins at the 3:06 mark to make it 45-25. Presbyterian took a 49-33 lead into the final quarter of play.
The Bobcats twice enjoyed a thirty point lead in the fourth quarter as they coasted to a 67-40 win to improve to 25-9. (Above) Presbyterian sophomore Hunter Hawkins (#34) had 14 points on the night
Hayden Eustachy led Presbyterian with 20 points, Hunter Hawkins chipped in with 14, Mitchell Moore and Cade Martin had 9 each, James Akers 7, Gage Garner 6 and Dan Rust 2.
The Bobcats will square off with Greenville Christian in the semi final round on Friday.
Brookhaven was led by Jake Reed with 22 points, Sidney Chaffin and Jamison Powell added 6 apiece, Bubba Keene 3, Matthew Evans 2 and Mark Rushing 1.
The Cougars end their season with a 27-9 mark. (Above) Brookhaven's Terah Winborne (#14) with a second half shot attempt
All wasn’t bad for Brookhaven as the girl’s team earned a slot in the semi final round with a 58-53 win over Trinity. While the State AA Runners up advanced to the next round it was not without a fight from upstart Trinity.
Summer Calhoun’s assist to Anna Lofton gave Brookhaven an early 5-4 lead three minutes into the first quarter but Trinity regained the lead on a Rosie Woods lay-in at the 5:03 mark. Madelyn Cross put Trinity up 8-5 on a driving basket with 2:42 left in the quarter but Anna Mangold would tie the game at 11-11 on a 17 foot jumper to end the first period.
Brookhaven regained the lead on Mary Lindsey Magee’s basket twenty seconds into the second quarter. The Lady Cougars would not relinquish the lead throughout a tightly played quarter in which the biggest lead was five points. Anna Mangold’s two free throws gave Brookhaven a 27-22 lead with 43 seconds remaining in the half before Rosie Woods connected on a jumper from the elbow to trim the deficit to 27-24 at the close of the quarter. (Above) Madeyn Cross of Trinity (#33) gets a piece of Anna Lofton's shot
Brookhaven pushed out to their biggest lead to start the second half as Anna Mangold converted on two baskets to give the Lady Cougars a 31-24 spread. Trinity faced a 39-32 deficit as Brookhaven threatened to pull away at the 1:33 mark but the Lady Saints ended the third quarter with a 7-0 run to tie the game at 39-39.
Trinity continued their run to start the fourth quarter on consecutive baskets from Brandis White to give the Lady Saints a 43-39 lead forcing a Brookhaven timeout. The Trinity lead was short lived as Brookhaven scored seven straight points to regain the lead at 46-43 with 5:26 to play. Brookhaven increased their lead to 51-45 on a Terah Winborne baseline drive with 3:04 remaining in the game and the Lady Cougars managed to hold off Trinity to take a 58-53 win to improve to 30-5.
Anna Mangold led Brookhaven with a game high 20 points, Anna Lofton and Terah Winborne added 11 each, Laura Beth Wright had 10, Mary Lindsey Magee 5 and Summer Calhoun 1. (Above) Laura Beth Wright (#21) of Brookhaven gets a fourth quarter basket
Trinity (24-11) was led by Brandis White with 18 points, Bethany Ogden added 13, Madelyn Cross 12, Rosie Woods 4 and Sarah Bryan and Katie Steele 3 apiece.
Brookhaven will take on top ranked East Rankin on Friday afternoon.

(Photo at top of page) Greenville Christian sophomore Keldrek Young