Leake surges in last minute to capture sixth straight
Southern Sports & Travel, By Darron Thomas
The top ranked Leake Rebelettes saw their five year reign as state champions in serious jeopardy Saturday afternoon in the finals of the Class AA State Tournament against 2nd ranked Brookhaven. Having watched Brookhaven erase a six point deficit with a furious 12-4 run to take a 47-45 lead late, Leake responded with a Jenny Wilbanks steal and a Hannah Peoples four point play with 1:06 remaining in regulation to propel Leake to a 51-47 win and an unprecedented sixth straight girl’s state championship and thirteenth overall.
Brookhaven got the start they had hoped for in the opening quarter as the Lady Cougars got out to an 8-4 lead following a Mary Lindsey Magee jumper in the paint, plus one, with five minutes gone in the quarter, but Leake responded. Jenny Wilbanks (Photo below) sank a jumper from the elbow at the 2:38 mark and sophomore Hannah Peoples pulled down two offensive rebounds in the final two minutes of the quarter and converted on both to give the Rebelettes a 10-8 lead heading into the second quarter. Brookhaven opened the second quarter on fire as Terah Winborne took charge. The junior converted on a fast break, canned two free throws and drained a 3-pointer from the wing at the 6:37 mark to give the Lady Cougars a 15-10 lead.
Brookhaven would take their biggest lead of the half at 22-16 on a Mary Lindsey Magee floater in the lane, plus one, with 3:22 remaining.
Leake pulled back to within two points at 22-20 on sophomore Anna Nowell’s fast break basket with 1:55 left in the half but Brookhaven still maintained the momentum and at the 1:34 mark of the second quarter Leake Player of the Year candidate Jenny Wilbanks picked up her fourth foul.
Brookhaven immediately capitalized as Anna Mangold’s offensive rebound and put back extended the lead back to 24-20. Following two Hannah Peoples free throws, Brookhaven would finish the half on a Terah Winborne driving bucket in the lane to take a 26-22 lead into the locker-room.
Leake exploded to start the second half of play. Jenny Wilbanks nailed a 3-pointer from the corner to pull the Rebelettes to within one point at 26-25. After a Laura Beth Wright 3-pointer pushed the Brookhaven lead back to four points at 29-25, Wilbanks drained another 3-pointer and Hannah Peoples hit one from the deep corner to give Leake a 31-29 lead at the 6:01 mark of the 3rd quarter.
After Brookhaven tied the game at 31-31 on two Anna Mangold free throws, Peoples’ jump shot from beyond the 3-point line hit bottom again to give Leake their biggest lead of the game at 34-31 with 5:09 left in the quarter. Brookhaven fired back as Mary Lindsey Magee canned an 18 foot jumper and Anna Mangold (Photo above) converted in the paint to give the Lady Cougars a 35-34 advantage with 2:51 left.
The lead changed hands once again as Jenny Wilbanks finished the 3rd quarter with a driving lay-in and an offensive rebound and put back to give the top ranked Rebelettes a 38-35 lead heading into the final quarter of play.
Leake took their biggest lead of the game at 41-35 on a Hannah Peoples 3-pointer from the corner to start the 4th quarter.
With 5:11 remaining in regulation, and facing a six point deficit, Brookhaven produced a 10-2 run. Marian Allen drained a 3-pointer and Anna Mangold’s turnaround basket on the block pulled Brookhaven to within one point at 43-42. Terah Winborne then served up an assist to Mary Lindsey Magee at the 3:52 mark as Brookhaven regained the lead at 44-43.
After a Jenny Wilbanks basket in the paint put Leake back on top at 45-44, Terah Winborne canned a 3-pointer from the wing that brought down the house and gave the Lady Cougars a 47-45 lead with 2:31 remaining.
Brookhaven would regain possession following a Leake missed shot but turned the ball over on a Jenny Wilbanks steal with 1:22 on the clock. Following a Leake timeout Hannah Peoples delivered on a designed play set up by Head Coach Doyle Wolverton. Peoples’ received a pass on a curl to the wing that gave the sophomore just enough space to launch her trademark jumper. Not only was Peoples’ jumper on target at the 1:06 mark but she was fouled in the process.
After Peoples sank a free throw to cap a four point play to put Leake up 49-47, Jenny Wilbanks would get behind the Brookhaven defense on a transition basket with 33 seconds remaining to give the Rebelettes a 51-47 cushion and seal the deal.
Leake wins their sixth straight Class AA title and improves to 42-0 entering next week’s Overall Tourney.
Jenny Wilbanks led all scorers with 23 points, Hannah Peoples had 22, Shelbi Horn added 4 and Anna Nowell 2.
Brookhaven (27-4) was led by Terah Winborne with 19 points, Anna Mangold added 12, Mary Lindsey Magee 10 and Marian Allen and Laura Beth Wright 3 each.
Leake will take on Trinity at the Overall Tournament on Tuesday while Brookhaven will play MRA on Wednesday.

(Photo at top of page) Leake's Hannah Peoples

Post Game Comments:
*Leake Head Coach Doyle Wolverton
*Leake senior Jenny Wilbanks