JACKSON — Sarita (Bug) Cooper lived up to her pregame publicityFriday in the Mississippi Coliseum. Cooper scored 15 points,grabbed 6 rebounds, made 8 assists and 4 steals in leadingIndianola Gentry to a 54-48 Class 4A State Tournament championshipvictory over Brookhaven’s Lady Panthers.

Cooper, the only senior on unbeaten Gentry’s 38-0 squad, wasinstrumental in helping the Lady Rams win their first-ever statetitle. Her cat-quick, ball-handling skills and magical passesreceived roars of approval from the large crowd, estimated at5,000.

Receiving the most benefit from Cooper’s assists was 6-footjunior center Veronica Walker who poured in a game-high 28 points,plus 12 rebounds. They combined for a strong second-half showingagainst Brookhaven (32-6) which wilted down the stretch.

The Lady Panthers were seeking their first state title since1984. They were runners-up to Starkville in 1992.

Gentry coach Charles Williams grinned broadly and smiled awrinkled smile as adoring fans took pictures of him holding thegold basketball trophy. The 61-year-old is in his ninth season ashead coach at Gentry.

“I knew it would be a tough game going against those threesix-footers from Brookhaven,” said Williams. “Veronica was nervousat first but she settled down and played well.

“Sarita is the best point guard in Mississippi.”

Asked about his game plan, Williams revealed his sense of humor.”Our game plan was to score one more point than they did.”

When the Lady Panthers forged a 9-point, 23-14 lead in thesecond quarter, Williams called for a timeout. “I told our girls tocatch up.”

The Lady Rams responded with a 12-0 run in the finals 6 minutesof the first half. A short jumper by Brizannia Washington and aputback by Walker with 19 seconds left, gave Gentry a 26-23halftime lead. Walker scored 3 field goals in the rally and Cooperdrained a trey.

Ole Brook first-year head coach Freda Craft said she wasdisappointed by her team’s defeat. “We got out of our game plan.Gentry had a lot of team speed. They had a quick first step.”

Craft’s team appeared to tire in the second half. Nikki Byrd, a6-2 junior post, led Brook with 19 points and 14 rebounds. She had12 points at halftime.

Brook had 5 turnovers in the third quarter and Gentry begangaining momentum. The Rams led 40-33 entering the final 8 minutesof action.

A short jumper by 6-1 junior Swayze Black pulled BHS within 4points, 45-41, with 4:11 left to play but the Panthers could comeno closer. Black finished with 16 points and 11 rebounds.

The Rams missed 5 of 8 free throws in the last 15 seconds of thegame but Brook hit a cold offensive streak and couldn’tcapitalize.

Brook only got 9 points from its perimeter players. Only 3 treyswere attempted and none connected.

Senior guard Kayla Harris, who made 7 assists, said her team ranout of gas in the fourth quarter. “We got tired and just gave up atthe end. Gentry ran the floor real well.”

Harris, 1 of 3 seniors in Brook’s starting lineup, said it tooka while for the team to adjust to their new coach. “She pushed usand pushed us in practice. After the game she told us to keep ourheads high. She was proud of us.”

Gentry advances to the MHSAA Grand Slam Tournament in Tupelothis week. They Rams will play Class 3A state champion South PikeFriday at 1 p.m., in the BancorpSouth Arena.