Just over three weeks ago Class AA and top ranked Central Private drilled Trinity to the tune of 110-76 and while the Rebels defeated the Saints again in yesterday’s semi-final contest the path in getting that victory was much different. Central Private advanced to the finals with a heart thumping 69-68 double overtime win over Trinity in the best matchup of the Brookhaven Christmas Tournament.
Central Private seemed stunned as Trinity ran out to a 10-0 opening quarter lead behind the hot shooting of junior guard Tip McKenzie. The Rebels didn’t notch a basket until the 4:05 mark when Jake Flaggert scored on a driving lay-in to make it 10-2. Trinity closed out a strong first quarter on a Kent King 3-pointer from the corner to give the Saints their biggest lead at 21-8.
Central Private exploded with a 15-1 run behind the play of senior Taylor Fletcher over the first five minutes of the second quarter to pull to within one point at 23-22 and knotted the game at 25-25 on a Simpson Anderson transition basket plus one with 1:44 remaining in the half.
Trinity hit 3 of 4 free throws in the final minute to take a 28-25 lead into halftime.
Trinity produced a 7-1 run to start the 3rd quarter and pushed their advantage to 35-26 with 5:25 remaining in the period.
Jake Flaggert’s lay-in off the glass and Dave Jackson’s offensive rebound and basket at the 2:29 mark pulled the Rebels back to within four at 36-32 but Trinity kept Central Private at bay as Tip McKenzie’s steal and basket and two free throws gave the Saints a 40-32 cushion with just over one minute left in the quarter.
Central Private got a critical 3-pointer at the buzzer from Lance Wicker to close the gap to 40-35 heading into the 4th quarter.
Sophomore Jake Flaggert gave Central Private their first lead of the game at 45-44 on a driving basket with 2:49 left in regulation.
With the Rebels hanging on to a 48-46 lead and 7 seconds remaining, Givonni Dent was fouled in the backcourt but missed the front end of a 1&1. Trinity was awarded the ball with 2.2 seconds remaining after Central Private couldn’t pull down the missed free throw and Kent King found Givonni Dent in the paint on a well executed inbounds play to knot the game at 48-48 at the buzzer.
Trinity regained the lead at 50-48 on two King free throws to start the four minute overtime period and at the 2:39 mark held a 52-50 advantage following a Tanner Cage jumper in the paint. 
Luke Fryoux, fresh off the bench, drilled a 3-pointer from the corner to put Central Private back on top at 53-52 at the 2:16 mark. Following a Trinity turnover Simpson Anderson hit two free throws to give the Rebels a 57-54 advantage.
Both teams traded turnovers and a free throw apiece and with Central Private holding on to a 58-55 lead Givonni Dent calmly drained a 3-pointer from the top of the key at the buzzer to send the game into double overtime at 58-58.
Tanner Cage gave Trinity a three point lead at 65-62 on a driving lay-in with 1:20 left in the second overtime but Central Private countered with baskets from Simpson Anderson and Jake Flaggert to put the Rebels on top for good at 66-65 with 30 seconds remaining.
Flaggert added two free throws and Taylor Fletcher added one to give the Rebels a 69-65 lead with 8 seconds left. Tip McKenzie drilled a 3-pointer at the buzzer for Trinity to finish off a Brookhaven Christmas Tournament classic.
Jake Flaggert led Central Private (15-2) with 21 points, Taylor Fletcher added 18, Simpson Anderson 10, Lance Wicker and Dave Jackson had 8 each and Luke Fryoux 4.
Tip McKenzie had a game high 23 points to lead Trinity (9-3), Givonni Dent added 14, Kent King 13, Tanner Cage 11, LJ Trimble 5 and Jake Winston 2.
Brookhaven holds off Leake
Brookhaven started off on fire as the Cougars raced out to an 8-0 lead as four of the five starters each converted on a basket in the first three minutes of the quarter. Leake put together a 7-0 run to pull within four points at 17-13 with 39 seconds left in the period but a Matthew Evans 3-pointer from the wing at the buzzer provided the Cougars with a 20-13 lead heading into the second quarter.
Brookhaven looked primed to pull away in the first two minutes of the second quarter as Brock Smith converted on a transition basket and then canned two free throws to put the Cougars up 26-16 with 6:06 left in the half but Leake wouldn’t go away. The Rebels closed out the half with a Ryan Sessums 12 footer and a Wesley Webb fast break basket to keep within striking distance at the halfway point at 36-29.
Brookhaven took their biggest lead at 46-33 at the 3:22 mark of the 3rd quarter on a Brennan Miller 3-pointer from the wing but Leake answered by trimming the deficit to 46-38 with a 3-pointer from Austin Shepard and two Ryan Sessums free throws to finish out the quarter. 
Wesley Webb got Leake to within four points two minutes into the final quarter with a 3-pointer from the wing and Hank Coleman sank two free throws on the next possession to make it 50-48 with 4:54 remaining. Leake’s shooting went dry as the Rebels could only muster a free throw the remaining four minutes and Brookhaven converted on 3 of 4 free throws and got a Sidney Chaffin basket to take a 55-49 win.
Brennan Miller led Brookhaven (7-4) with 18 points (four 3 pointers), Sidney Chaffin and Brock Smith added 10 each, Chandler Rogers had 8, Gage Posey 5 and Mathew Evans 4.
Wesley Webb paced Leake with 14 points, Ryan Sessums and Grant Wilson had 8 each, Austin Shepard and Hank Coleman 6 each, Aaron Shepard 5 and Joshua Peoples 2.
