Rebels
overcome slow start, take out top ranked Cougars
Southern
Sports & Travel
It
wasn’t the start second year head coach Richy Spears had hoped for as he
watched his Adams Christian squad go the first 4:22 of the game before putting
a point on the scoreboard on the road at top ranked Brookhaven.
Staring
at a 12-1 first quarter deficit ACCS would produce an 18-4 run, sparked by junior
Lester Wells who had a game high 14 points coming off the bench, as the second
ranked Rebels handed district foe Brookhaven a 43-40 loss.
With
the win Adams Christian improves to 17-2 overall and barring an upset against
Central Hinds on Friday will take over the top spot in the Southern Sports
& Travel rankings next week.
Brookhaven
came out on fire to start the contest as all five starters scored during an
11-0 run capped by Zac Smith’s 12 foot jumper at the 4:23 mark of the opening
quarter.
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| Lester Wells (#1) of ACCS drives for 2 of his game high 14 points |
ACCS
wouldn’t get on the scoreboard until the 3:38 mark when Brandon Brooks
converted on one of two free throws but the Rebels would close out the quarter
outscoring Brookhaven 8-4.
Trey
Fleming nailed two 3-pointers and Lester Wells converted in the paint in the
final 2:44 of the quarter to pull ACCS to within seven points at 16-9.
ACCS
ripped off ten straight points to open the second quarter to cap the 18-4 run.
Two
Trey Fleming free throws would knot the game at 16-16 and Fleming’s transition
lay-in at the 3:06 mark would give ACCS their first lead of the night at 18-16.
“I've always preached defense is going to win it,” said Adams head coach Richy
Spears. “You can always turn it around with defense.”
Lester
Wells converted on one of two free throws to give the Rebels their biggest lead
of the half at 19-16 but Brookhaven would answer as Zac Smith sank a 10 footer
from the baseline. Drake Flowers would serve up an assist to Josh Wiggins with
49 seconds remaining in the quarter and Brookhaven would take a 20-19 lead into
halftime.
Five
lead changes and being tied twice would highlight the third quarter but with
the game knotted up at 27-27 at the 2:02 mark Brody Cole would can a 3-pointer
from the wing to give ACCS a 30-27 lead, one they would not surrender.
A
Lester Wells basket in the paint would close the quarter and give the Rebels
their biggest lead at 32-27.
 |
| Peyton Hood of Brookhaven tries to get off a shot over Brandon Brooks of ACCS |
ACCS
quickly upped their lead to twelve points as the Rebels opened the final
quarter with a 7-0 run.
Tyler
Stockstill turned a Brookhaven turnover into a 3-point basket 30 seconds into
the quarter and Jay Fleming sank a 12 foot jumper to give ACCS a ten point edge
at 37-27 with 6:33 remaining in regulation.
Lester
Wells gave the Rebels their biggest lead of the night at 39-27 on a driving
lay-in off the glass but home-standing Brookhaven would begin to cut into the
Rebel lead.
Zac
Smith was fouled while attempting a 3-pointer and nailed three free throws to
trim the deficit to 41-38 with 57 seconds left and cap an 11-2 Brookhaven run.
ACCS
pushed the lead to 43-38 on a Tyler Stockstill bucket in the paint with 46
seconds remaining but Brookhaven pulled back to within three points at 43-40 on
two Zac Smith free throws with 29 seconds left.
Brookhaven
quickly fouled Jay Fleming who missed the front end of a one and one giving the
Cougars possession.
Following
a timeout with 19 seconds remaining Brookhaven worked for a game tying 3-point
shot but would only manage a wild shot at the buzzer that would not draw rim.
Lester
Wells led ACCS with 14 points, Trey Fleming (Photo right) added 13 points (three 3’s), Tyler
Stockstill 8 points, Brody Cole and Brandon Brooks 3 each and Jay Fleming 2.
“The
Wells kid has been out a couple of games with a bum knee,” said Spears. “I felt
like he was going to be a matchup problem for them.”
Brookhaven
was led by Zac Smith with 11 points, Josh Wiggins 10, Caleb Brown and Peyton
Hood 6 apiece, Drake Flowers 4 and Travis Thornton 3.
Brookhaven
slips to 17-6 overall but still maintains the top seed in 5-AA with two to
play.
The
Cougars defeated ACCS 50-46 on January 3rd in Natchez.
Next
up for ACCS is district foe Central Hinds on the road this Friday while
Brookhaven hosts Central Hinds next Tuesday.
Post Game with ACCS Head Coach Richy Spears
