Columbia makes case for best in state
Southern Sports & Travel, By Darron Thomas
Columbia, Mississippi was the setting last night for the Class AA South State Championship matchup between 3rd ranked Columbia and #7 Brookhaven. Columbia overcame a 10-7 opening quarter deficit with a 16-2 second quarter run that helped propel the Cougars to a 46-30 win to earn their first South State title since 1996.
Columbia ran out to a 5-2 lead thanks to a quick start from senior point guard Tanner Pace who sank 3 of 4 free throws and drilled a 17’ jumper during the first three minutes of play, but Brookhaven would control the remaining five minutes of the opening quarter. Gage Posey’s steal and basket pulled Brookhaven to within one point at 5-4 and after a Christian Robbins offensive rebound and put back pushed the Columbia lead back to 7-4 Brookhaven closed out the quarter strong. Jeff Rushing served up an assist to Matthew Evans and a Sidney Chaffin hard drive to the rim gave Brookhaven an 8-7 lead with 2:12 remaining in the quarter. Brock Smith’s bucket with 3 seconds left ended the opening quarter with Brookhaven enjoying a 10-7 advantage. Brookhaven expanded their lead to 12-7 on a Posey offensive rebound and put back 15 seconds into the second quarter and with Columbia’s 6’10” senior Christian Robbins on the bench with two early fouls Brookhaven seemed to have captured the momentum.
Enter Columbia sophomore Alex Price who quickly changed the flow of the game and ignited the huge Columbia crowd on hand. Price methodically sank a 3-pointer from the wing at the 6:50 mark to halt a Brookhaven 8-0 run. Tanner Pace then converted a Brookhaven turnover into a bucket to tie the game at 12-12 and Price hit another 3-pointer from the same spot on the floor to give the Cougars a 15-12 lead that they would not relinquish.
With Columbia holding a 20-14 advantage Price would send the Columbia student section into a frenzy as the sophomore drilled his third 3-pointer of the quarter with 39 seconds remaining to give Columbia their biggest lead at 23-14.
Brookhaven would pull back to within six points at 23-17 to begin the third quarter as Brock Smith converted on one of two free throws and hit a 12’ jumper over Christian Robbins, but the deficit quickly swelled back to twelve points as Cole Oglesbee and Tanner Pace drained 3-pointers on consecutive Columbia possessions. Columbia pushed their lead to 33-19 to end the third quarter as an Oglesbee to Taylor Fortenberry assist expanded the lead to fourteen.
Brookhaven fired off six straight points to begin the final quarter of play. Gage Posey canned a 3-pointer from the top of the key and Sidney Chaffin’s basket off a loose ball, plus one, pulled Brookhaven to 33-25 with 4:45 left in regulation.
The remaining 4:45 would belong to Columbia. The Cougars hit 11/14 free throws down the stretch along with a Christian Robbins basket to seal up a 13-5 run to end the game with Columbia capturing the Class AA South State Championship with a 46-30 win.
Tanner Pace led Columbia with 13 points, Alex Price added 12 (Three 3’s), Christian Robbins had 10 points and 13 rebounds, Taylor Fortenberry 6, Cole Oglesbee 3 and Jas Stringer 2.
Brookhaven was led by Brock Smith with 14 points, Gage Posey added 9, Sidney Chaffin 5 and Matthew Evans 2.
Columbia (27-5) will enter the Class AA State Tournament at Brookhaven next week as the top seed from the south while Brookhaven (16-10) will fill the #2 seed.

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Post Game Comments: Columbia Head Coach Reid McCay