Brookhaven shuts down Kirk to advance
Southern Sports & Travel, By Darron Thomas
Brookhaven rolled past Kirk 42-17 in girl’s Class AA semi-final action this afternoon at the John R Gray Gymnasium in Brookhaven. The 2nd ranked Lady Cougars used a smothering defense that limited the 3rd ranked Raiderettes to just four points in the first half. With the win Brookhaven advances to tomorrow’s state championship game for the second consecutive season where they will face a familiar opponent, the five time defending state champion Leake Rebelettes.
Brookhaven got out to a 5-0 opening quarter lead on a Laura Beth Wright jumper in the paint at the 2:13 mark and held Kirk scoreless until Kelsey Marter’s banker in the paint with 37 seconds remaining in the first quarter.
The Lady Cougar’s dominant defensive pressure continued in the second quarter and a 5-0 run gave Brookhaven their biggest lead at 11-2 with 3:37 remaining in the half. A Carmen Woods bucket in the lane at the 3:12 mark halted the run but Brookhaven closed the half on a Laura Beth Wright driving floater in the lane and Anna Lofton’s lay-in to boost the lead to 15-4 with 1:09 left in the quarter. Brookhaven grabbed their biggest lead of the game at 17-4 on an Anna Katelyn Mangold basket on the block to start the third quarter. Kirk then reeled off consecutive baskets from Beth Tillman and Carmen Woods that trimmed to deficit to 17-8 forcing a Brookhaven timeout.
Following the timeout Brookhaven produced a 9-3 run to close out the third quarter with a 26-11 advantage.
Haley Langston’s jumper from the elbow gave Brookhaven their biggest lead at 42-17 with 2:52 remaining in the contest.
With the win Brookhaven improves to 27-3 and will look to unseat Leake Academy in the Class AA State finals tomorrow.
Anna Katelyn Mangold led Brookhaven with 14 points, Laura Beth Wright added 8, Mary Lindsey Magee and Anna Lofton had 6 apiece, Haley Langston 4, Summer Calhoun 3 and Terah Winborne 1.
Carmen Woods led Kirk (29-11) with 8 points, Beth Tillman added 4, Kelsey Marter 3 and Rachel Hamilton 2.
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Post Game Comments: Brookhaven Head Coach Barry Gray