Rebels edge Cougars in Class AA heavyweight battle
Southern Sports & Travel
Two of the top teams in Class AA knocked heads last night for the third time this season as second ranked Brookhaven visited third ranked Central Private and for those basketball fans who wanted to see a preview of what the state tournament next month in Grenada holds they got their money’s worth. With 23 lead changes, 5 ties and neither team able to gain more than a five point lead, the game wasn’t decided until the final seconds.
Central Private senior Alex Overs scored 18 points and dished out 7 assists and the Rebels outscored Brookhaven 11-6 in the fourth quarter en-route to a 56-52 win.
Central Private got out to an early lead as a fast break basket from Luke Fryoux put the Rebels up 6-4 two minutes into the game but perimeter shooting was about to heat up for both squads.
Brookhaven took their first lead of the night at 7-6 on a Gage Posey 3-pointer from the wing at the 5:35 mark and following a Central Private turnover Posey spotted up and drained another 3-pointer from the same spot to put the Cougars on top 10-6.
(Above) Piers Carroll (#35) of Central Private gets a big basket in the closing seconds
Luke Fryoux answered for Central Private as the senior nailed a 3-pointer of his own to keep the Rebels close at 10-9.
Central Private took the lead at 13-12 on an Alex Overs turnaround jumper from 10 feet with 3:21 remaining in a well played first quarter. The remainder of the quarter included six consecutive lead changes, the sixth coming on a Simpson Anderson tip in with 46 seconds left to give Central Private a 20-19 lead heading into the second quarter.
Christian “Bubba” Keene quickly put Brookhaven back on top at 22-20 to start the second quarter as the senior drained a 3-pointer from the wing less than one minute in but neither team would manage to mount a run of more than four points.
The back and forth continued as Central Private got a 17 foot fall away jumper from Simpson Anderson and a Matt Myers basket in the paint to send the lead back in Central Private’s direction at 26-24 with 4:15 left in the half.
Brookhaven took control at the 2:22 mark of the quarter. Zac Smith’s 3-pointer was quickly followed by a Bubba Keene jumper from the elbow giving the Cougars a little breathing room at 33-29.
After an Austin Pierce assist to Alex Overs trimmed the deficit to 33-31, Brookhaven took their biggest lead of the half at 36-31 on another Gage Posey 3-pointer from the wing with just 7 seconds remaining but Central Private got what was a most critical basket as Austin Pierce canned a 3-pointer from the corner as time ran out to pull Central Private to within two points at 36-34 as both teams hit the locker-rooms.
(Above) Brookhaven's Gage Posey (#11) drives on Alex Overs of Central Private
Brookhaven again stretched their lead to five points at 39-34 on a Brennan Miller 3-pointer 45 seconds into the third quarter but it was obvious neither team would be pulling away from the other.
Central Private countered with an Alex Overs 18 foot jumper from the baseline and an Overs assist to Piers Carroll to keep the Rebels close at 39-38 with 6:29 remaining in the quarter.
After Brookhaven had taken a 41-40 lead Central Private managed to produce a mini run of 6-2 to grab a 46-43 lead with 1:24 left in the third quarter.
Two free throws from Brookhaven’s Gage Posey closed the third quarter with Central Private clinging to a narrow 46-45 advantage.
The lead changed hands three times during the first three minutes of the fourth quarter but after Brookhaven’s Zac Smith hit a 3-pointer from the wing to give Brookhaven a one point edge at 50-49 Central Private would capitalize on Brookhaven miscues.
Alex Overs converted on a hard drive to the basket following a Brookhaven turnover at the 2:11 mark and Overs converted on one of two free throws following another Brookhaven turnover to give Central Private a 52-50 lead with 1:40 remaining in regulation.
After Brookhaven missed on a long 3-point attempt Central Private increased their lead to 53-50 as Piers Carroll hit on one of two free throws with 1:12 left.
(Above) Central Private's Piers Carroll (#35) and Simpson Anderson (#5)
Brookhaven would get their final basket of the night in dramatic fashion as Zac Smith stole an inbounds pass underneath the Brookhaven basket and found brother Brock Smith for an easy lay-in to cut the Central Private lead to 53-52 with 43 seconds remaining.
Central Private’s Piers Carroll broke loose inside the paint to score a critical bucket with 29 seconds left to give the Rebels a 55-52 lead.
Brookhaven’s 3-point attempt to tie the game fell short and the Cougars were forced to foul Alex Overs who canned one of two free throws to seal the win for Central Private.
Alex Overs led all scorers with 18 points to lead Central Private, Piers Carroll added 14, Simpson Anderson 11, Luke Fryoux and Matt Myers 5 each and Austin Pierce 3.
Brookhaven (18-3) was led by Gage Posey with 16 points, Brock Smith 12, Bubba Keene 7, Matthew Evans and Zac Smith 6 each and Brennan Miller 5.
Brookhaven travels to Natchez on Friday to take on Adams Christian in District 5-AA action while Central Private (20-4) will travel to Bowling Green on Monday for a big District 6-AA matchup.
.Post game with Central Private head coach Henry Gantz
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