The Leake Academy Lady Rebels left no doubt Saturday afternoonas to who the best MPSA Class AA basketball team in the state was.Before a capacity crowd, Leake placed 5 players in double figuresas the Lady Rebels put away the host Brookhaven Academy LadyCougars 84-50 for the AA state title in John R. Gray Gymnasium.

In the consolation girls game, Delta Academy clipped MarshallAcademy 49-48. All four teams advance to the Overall Tournamentnext week at Mississippi College in Clinton.

Leake coach Doyle Wolverton collected his 1,002th career winSaturday. The Lady Rebels improved to 40-0 and the Lady Cougarsfell to 36-5.

MPSA Executive Director David Derrick and Brookhaven Academyheadmaster Dr. Miller Hammill presented the state trophy for firstand second place and individual medallions to the winners.

Selected to the All-Tournament Team from Leake were BritniHarvey, Whitney Gross, Allison Phillips, Hannah Lee and JulieWilbanks. From Brookhaven were Kelli Snider and Casey Smith.

“You can have talent but you have to have chemistry,” saidWolverton after the win. “We like each other a lot.

“I appreciate the girls effort and attitude the whole year,”continued Wolverton. “They make it fun for the whole year.”

Powering the Leake girls with a game-high 21 points, all 7treys, was Harvey. Julie Wilbanks and Whitney Gross netted 17points apiece. Firing in 14 points was Allison Phillips. Hannah Leefollowed with 11 points.

Snider powered Brookhaven with 20 points. Holly Case netted 9points and had 3 assists. Tops off the backboards was Kacey Rutlandwith 8 rebounds. Kellie Brady pulled down 5 rebounds.

“Leake has a nice team,” complimented Gray. “They have noweakness. They are deep with athletes and their shooting level isso high. You need to be able to control the tempo with four goodball handlers.

‘I am extremely proud of my girls,” added Gray. “We never quit.Our court vision was a lot better. This was the eighth out of ninestate finals for us in the last nine years.”

Leake kicked off the first quarter with a 29-15 run onBrookhaven as the Lady Rebels ran their press to perfection,forcing turnovers and dominating on the backboards. Their shootingpercentage was high in the first half.

The visitors continued to dominate the hosts with a 28-10 secondquarter run for a 57-25 lead at the half. Harvey scored 18 points(6 treys) in the first half, followed by Gross with 13 points (2treys) and Wilbanks with 9. Snider paced Brookhaven with 7 points,including a pair of treys.

With an 80-29 lead heading into the fourth quarter, Wolvertonpulled his starting five and subbed the remainder of the game. TheLady Cougars outscored the Lady Rebels 21-4 in the final frame.

Delta 49, Marshall 48

A foul called on a Marshall player with no time remainingresulted in Marshall girls coach Craig Dailey receiving twotechnicals fouls and ejection from the game. Delta’s Katie Rushingmissed the first two free throws off the first technical. BlissGurley hit the first of the second pair on the second technical togive Delta the win.

Gurley led the Delta girls with 20 points. Rushing finished with10 points.

Marshall was led by Kim Shaw with 18 points. ChelseaFaulkenberry and Traci Rogers netted 13 points apiece.