Rebels roll in BrookhavenCentral Private jumped out to a 6-0 lead and never looked back as the top ranked Rebels beat Brookhaven 73-53 to win the Brookhaven Christmas Tournament. All five Rebel starters hit double digits on the night as Central Private upped their season mark to 16-2.
The Rebels set the pace from the opening tip as junior Lance Wicker drained 3-pointers from the wing on Central Private’s first two possessions. After Brookhaven senior Sidney Chaffin’s lay-in pulled the Cougars to within four points at 11-7 at the 3:30 mark Central Private finished the opening quarter with a 9-2 run. Simpson Anderson drained a 15 footer, Jake Flaggert converted in the paint, Wicker hit his third 3-pointer of the quarter and Dave Jackson’s steal and slam at the buzzer gave the Rebels a 20-9 advantage after one quarter of play.
Brookhaven pulled to within striking distance at 24-18 on Gage Posey’s 3-pointer midway through the quarter but Central Private closed out the 2nd quarter as they did the 1st, with a run. A 10-2 run capped off by Lance Wicker’s fourth 3-pointer of the half gave the Rebels their biggest lead at 34-22 at the halfway point.
Central Private demonstrated what all the buzz has been about during the first four minutes of the 3rd quarter as they exploded with a 13-2 run to take a commanding 47-24 lead. Simpson Anderson drained a long 3-pointer and both Jake Flaggert and Dave Jackson had impressive slams during the run.Central Private took their biggest lead of the night at 69-42 on a Taylor Fletcher driving basket with just over five minutes remaining in the game.
Lance Wicker led Central Private with 19 points (five 3-pointers), Simpson Anderson, Dave Jackson and Taylor Fletcher each had 13, Jake Flaggert added 12, Luke Fryoux and Austin Pierce had 2 apiece.
Sidney Chaffin led Brookhaven (7-5) with 19 points, Gage Posey added 18 (three 3-pointers), Brock Smith 7 and Matthew Evans, Jeff Rushing, Will Hickman and Brennan Miller 2 each.
Both teams will be playing district opponents next week. Central Private will travel to Silliman on Tuesday while Brookhaven will host Bowling Green that same day.
Leake remains perfect
Top ranked Leake overcame turnovers and first half foul trouble to take a 43-36 win over 2nd ranked Brookhaven to win the Brookhaven Christmas Tournament. Hannah Peoples and Jenny Wilbanks combined for 27 points as the defending Class AA state champions improved to 22-0 and look primed to make a run at their sixth straight state crown.
With Leake on top 4-1 midway through the opening quarter Brookhaven went to a zone press that was effective in forcing Rebelette turnovers. The Lady Cougars capitalized on the turnovers and took their first lead at 6-4 on Anna Mangold’s lay-in with 3:14 left in the quarter. Leake closed out the 1st quarter with a 3-pointer from sophomore Hannah Peoples at the buzzer to regain the lead at 10-9.
Peoples would give Leake a six point cushion at 18-12 with a 3-pointer from the top of the key three minutes into the 2nd quarter but Brookhaven answered as senior Anna Mangold reeled off three straight baskets to knot the contest at 18-18 with 1:28 remaining in the half. Each squad traded baskets and free throws in the last 55 seconds of the quarter to send the game into halftime tied at 22-22.
Leake turned up the defensive pressure and Shelbi Horn drilled three jumpers as the Rebelettes went on top 28-22 and held Brookhaven scoreless through nearly six minutes of the 3rd quarter. Terah Winborne’s 3-pointer from the wing at the 2:04 mark pulled the Lady Cougars to within three points at 28-25 and Laura Beth Wright added two free throws to narrow the deficit to one point with 1:46 remaining in the quarter.
Leake answered with consecutive jumpers from senior Jenny Wilbanks to increase the lead to 32-27 and Hannah Peoples once again drained a 3-pointer at the horn to give the defending champs a 35-27 lead heading into the final quarter. 
Leake took their biggest lead of the night at 38-27 ten seconds into the final quarter as Peoples hit a 3-pointer from the corner but Brookhaven rallied with a 9-0 run. Winborne canned a 3-pointer from the wing, Anna Mangold and Laura Beth Wright hit 3 of 4 free throws and Mary Lindsey Magee’s offensive rebound and put back, plus one, pulled the Lady Cougars to with two points at 38-36 with 4:46 remaining.
That would be as close as Brookhaven would get as Leake held the Lady Cougars scoreless the remaining four minutes of the game. Leake’s Anna Nowell converted on a basket in the paint and later hit 1 of 2 free throws and Hannah Peoples sank a jumper from the elbow to secure a 43-36 win.
Peoples had a game high 14 points, Wilbanks added 13, Shelbi Horn 8, Shelby Howard 5 and Anna Nowell 3.
Anna Mangold and Terah Winborne had 12 each to lead Brookhaven (13-2), Laura Beth Wright added 8 and Mary Lindsey Magee 4.
Next up for Leake will be a District 3-AA matchup with Lamar in Madden while Brookhaven hosts Bowling Green in a District 4-AA meeting.
