BA boys bury Leake 56-36
Published 6:00 am Wednesday, February 7, 2001
The host Brookhaven Academy Cougars fought off any nervousnessthey had Tuesday night and proceeded to eliminate the Leake AcademyRebels 56-36 in the first round of the MPSA South State AATournament.
In Tuesday’s other first round games, the East Rankin boyscrushed Bowling Green 63-49 and the Leake Academy girls dumpedBowling Green 70-46.
Brookhaven Academy (27-6) faces East Rankin Friday night at 7:30p.m. in the semifinals.
In today’s games, the Oak Forest girls meet Simpson County at 4,the Simpson County boys face Wilkinson Christian at 5:30, theCanton Academy girls battle Wilkinson Christian at 7 and the CantonAcademy boys tangle with Columbia Academy at 8:30. Tonight’swinners advance to the semis Friday.
“I was nervous about Leake,” said Brookhaven Academy boys coachDale Watts after the win. “I felt we were the better team.
“It wasn’t pretty. We scrapped and clawed and found a way towin. That was the difference in the game. I’m proud of them,” addedWatts.
Both teams were cautious in the first quarter with Rebel LukeCulpepper hitting a pair of jumpers in the final seconds to giveLeake a brief 14-11 lead over Brookhaven.
In the second quarter, the Cougars picked up the intensity levelwith less than four minutes left until halftime. Brookhaven went onan 8-4 run and take 23-20 lead. Leake tied the game at 19-all forthe final time of the game on a two-pointer from Culpepper.
Brookhaven senior guard Jake Sessums nailed a field goal andjunior center Paul Coker followed with a two pointer for a 23-19lead with 1:04 left to play. Rebel guard Derek Freeny hit a pair offree throws to close the deficit to three points, 23-20.
“We knew for us to win, we would have to play extremely good,”said Leake Academy boys coach Phil Shepard after the game. “Weplayed well in the first half.”
Third-quarter action saw Leake pull within one point ofBrookhaven, 23-22, in the opening minute. Senior forward TurnerHavard scored his first of 10 third-quarter points to ignite theCougar offense. Brookhaven went on to outscore Leake 15-6 to gointo the fourth quarter on top 38-26.
The Rebels closed the deficit to 10 points, 38-28, with 6:09left to play. Havard went 1-for-2 from the free-throw line thenscored on an inside basket to put the Cougars rolling with a 41-28lead with 4:18 remaining.
“We wanted a slow down game,” added Shepard. “We wanted to scorearound 40 points. BA got the shots in the game.”
Havard was the leading scorer for the Cougars with 22 points.Coker fired in 13 points and Sessums netted 10 points. Havard ledwith 10 rebounds followed by Coker with eight rebounds.
Culpepper sparked 25-10 Leake with 12 points. Freeny had 10points.
Watts was extremely pleased with the crowd support the Cougarsgot last night. “The BA fans helped us out. The BA fans are No.1.”