Basketball teams return to the court today
Published 9:48 am Thursday, December 26, 2019
- Photo by Becky Green Brookhaven High senior Jermario Hersey jumps ball against Warren Central last week in Sinclair Gymnasium. Brookhaven High, Brookhaven Academy, Bogey Chitto, Wesson and Lawrence County are all in holiday hoops action over the next three days.
With Christmas and New Year’s comes a break from games for some high school basketball programs. Here’s a breakdown of who’s playing as games resume today through Saturday for many local teams.
Brookhaven High School
BHS took on Warren Central and Wingfield last week before taking off a few days for Christmas.
At home against Warren Central last Thursday, the Lady Panthers took a 55-30 win while the Panthers went down in 67-65. Then on Friday, BHS took on Wingfield in a pair of games played at Jackson State. The Lady Panthers blasted Wingfield 55-11 while the Falcons beat the Panthers 91-64.
In the win over Warren Central, coach Preston Wilson and the Lady Panthers (14-2) were led by Snudda Collins with 22 points.
Coach Marcus Flippin had four of his Panthers (5-10) score in double figures against Warren Central, led by 16 points from junior guard La’Darius Thrasher. Senior Johntavious Wilkerson scored 15 points, sophomore Elijah Kennedy added 13 points and senior Jermario Hersey scored 12 points.
Ole Brook will play today and tomorrow in the McComb tournament. They’ll face South Pike today with the Lady Panthers beginning at 4:50 p.m. and the Panthers following. Friday they’ll take on McComb with the girls’ game starting at 7:45 p.m.
The next home games for BHS will be their first region matchup of the year, a big showdown with West Jones Jan. 7. The West Jones Lady Mustangs are 8-2 and eliminated BHS last season in the 5A playoffs.
Brookhaven Academy
The Cougars will play in a holiday tournament hosted by Copiah Academy Friday and Saturday.
They’ll face Jackson Prep Friday with the Lady Cougars getting things started at 2:30 p.m. Saturday BA will face Parklane with the girls’ game starting at 1:15 p.m.
Parklane was the last opponent for BA as they split a pair of games in Pike County Dec. 13. Coach Ron Kessler and the Lady Cougars (10-6) lost 58-43 to the Lady Pioneers. The Cougars (9-2) coached by Josh Watts were 49-41 winners over Parklane last time out.
The next home game for BA is on Jan. 3 against Presbyterian Christian. Then then host Jackson Prep the following day.
Bogue Chitto
The Bobcats are in action beginning today at the Taylorsville tournament. They’ll take on Stringer today with the Lady Cats playing at 3 p.m. and the boys’ game following. Friday, the Lady Cats get things started against Seminary at 1 p.m.
Bogue Chitto faced off against Taylorsville at home last week. The Lady Bobcats (11-3) were never able to recover from a THS 13-4 lead in the first quarter and lost 40-33 to the Lady Tartars.
In the boys’ game Taylorsville took a 78-43 victory over coach Robbie Walters and his Bobcats (4-8).
The next home game for BC will be Jan. 3 against Wilkinson County.
Wesson
The Cobras of Wesson are the only area school to host their own holiday tournament, as they’ll put forth the Wesson Holiday Shootout on Friday and Saturday.
Friday the action begins at 11 a.m. with West Marion taking on Crystal Springs in a pair of games. Those matchups will be followed by Pearl playing Port Gibson in girls’ and boys’ games.
Pearl is the defending 6A state champion in girls’ basketball and is coached by former Enterprise standout Lacey Palmorez Kennedy. The Lady Pirates are currently 10-0 after finishing 31-1 last season.
While Kennedy was overseas last season on a military deployment, her husband Jason coached the Lady Pirates. Jason Kennedy coached at Bogue Chitto at one time and now leads the Pearl boys’ program.
The finale of day one will be Wesson taking on Jefferson County with the girls’ game, slated to start at 5 p.m.
Coach Michelle Nunnery and her Lady Cobras (6-6) beat Jefferson County 42-27 on the road back on Dec. 3.
The schedule for Saturday starts with Jefferson County playing Florence in a girls’ game at 10 a.m. The Jefferson County boys will then face West Marion. The West Marion girls then play Port Gibson at 1 p.m.
Port Gibson will see their boys play Florence at 2:30 p.m. The Crystal Springs girls take on Pearl at 4 p.m. followed by the Pearl boys playing Forest at 5:30 p.m.
The long day of hoops wraps up with the Wesson girls playing Forest at 7 p.m. and the Wesson boys facing county rival Crystal Springs at 8:30 p.m.
Coach Rusty Newman and his Cobras (4-6) were 60-46 winners over West Marion in their last game on December 20.
Lawrence County
The Cougars are back in action Friday and Saturday at the Bay High tournament on the coast.
Friday at 5 p.m., coach Vicki Rutland and her Lady Cougars (7-5) take on Pass Christian. Coach Pat Bridges and his Cougars are off to a 10-2 start and will face host Bay High at 8 p.m. Friday night.
Saturday, the Lady Cougars will play St. Martin at 2 p.m. while the Cougars face East Central at noon.
Senior guard La’Darrion Sutton leads Bridges’ team by averaging 15.1 points per game. LC isn’t back at home until Jan. 17 when the Cougars host North Pike.