Lady Panthers reach finals

Published 6:00 am Monday, March 5, 2007

JACKSON — Most coaches are usually pleased when their teams canshoot above 70 percent from the free throw line on any given night.They become ecstatic when their teams hit at an 85 percent clip andwin a game. That was the feeling expressed by Brookhaven girls headcoach Freda Craft in the Mississippi Coliseum Saturday night infront of nearly 2000 fans.

The Lady Panthers accomplished both tasks. They shot ablistering 17 of 20 from the charity stripe and dominated in thepaint; thus authoring a 61-56 win over the Callaway LadyChargers.

“That is what we talked about during our pregame shootaround,”Coach Craft said. “We had to make our free throws and we did downthe stretch.”

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Brookhaven awaits the Wayne County/Indianola Gentry winnerFriday afternoon at 1 p.m. for the MHSAA’s Class 4A Girls title.Wayne County plays Gentry Monday at 1.

Callaway, coached by Maxine Johnson, concludes its season at28-9.

Brookhaven 61, Callaway 56

Ole Brook (32-5) continued to work its bread-and-butter mealthroughout the game. Dandy Dozen junior center Nikki Byrd was infoul trouble throughout the evening; spending a lot of time on thebench. But while she was in the game is what hurt the LadyChargers.

“Their big girl (Byrd) hurt us when she was in the game,” saidCoach Johnson. “Our big girl (center Kiana James) was in foultrouble, and we could not match up inside.”

James had burned Brookhaven for 28 points and 21 rebounds inCallaway’s 66-59 overtime win against Brookhaven Nov. 11 inSinclair Gym.

Byrd pumped 15 of her game-high 25 points in the opening half.The Lady Panthers led 14-9 heading into the second half, andcarried a 33-24 advantage into the halftime locker room.

Both teams committed numerous turnovers in the third frame, asthe Lady Panthers still held a 43-30 lead into the fourth stanza.Defense and poor shooting by Brookhaven and Callaway also hurt.

Johnson’s ballclub trailed by as many as 13 points on 4 separateoccasions in the game. They came out in the second half withstifling full-court pressure defense. Within a matter of minutes,the Lady Chargers found themselves down by a single point, 55-54 ona steal and subsequent basket by James.

James had been in foul trouble throughout the game, including atechnical foul in the first half. The Lady Panthers used theabsence of James to their advantage.

Craft’s crew would seal the deal at the charity stripe, despitethe numerous miscues in the second half.

“Brookhaven won the game because we could not get any reboundingfrom Kiana on the bench,” said Johnson. “They made their freethrows down the stretch. Brookhaven played well.”

Lending support to the Lady Panthers was guard Jermecia Joneswith 14 points. Black had 11 points, 9 rebounds, 3 assists, 4steals and 3 blocked shots. Kayla Harris dished out 4 assists.

Callaway was led by senior point guard Jessica Collins who had21 points. James tossed in 17 points.

Craft said that she doesn’t have a preference as to who her teamplays in the title game. “We are just glad to be here. We do notcare who we play. I just want the girls to go out Friday and havesome fun.”