Brookhaven High School boys basketball team drops close one to Eagles

 

The Brookhaven High Lady Panthers and coach Preston Wilson are 3-0 in Region 5-5A after their first run through the division.

Wilson’s team is 17-3 overall and has won 15 games in a row, most recently a 39-22 win at region newcomer Florence High.

The Lady Panthers began division play on Jan. 7 with a 64-63 win at home over West Jones. The team then went on the road and beat Natchez High 58-43 on Jan. 11.

BHS and Florence meet again on Jan. 21 in Sinclair Gymnasium for another region matchup. The Lady Panthers then travel to West Jones on Jan. 25.

The final home game of the regular season for Brookhaven High is scheduled for Jan. 28 against Natchez.

Ole Brook got a game high 23 points from junior guard Angel Wilkinson in the win over Florence.

Wilkinson was nearly unstoppable against West Jones (13-3) as she poured in 39 points and made seven steals in a huge win over a team that’s one of the biggest 5A rivals for the Lady Panthers.

The BHS boys’ team and first year head coach Charlton Grey saw a two-game division win streak snapped with a close loss at Florence last week.

Florence is 17-2 and comes to the 5A ranks after being a title contender most years as a 4A school under longtime head coach Darrin Chancellor.

The Eagles have a strong inside-outside combo with 6-foot-6 junior center Jay’lan McNair and 6-foot-3 point guard Carter Mullins.

The Brookhaven boys’ team had built momentum after beating West Jones 73-52 and Natchez High 68-39 on the road.

Senior Elijah Kennedy scored 19 points to lead BHS in the loss at Florence. Senior Jacobieus Perkins added 12 points for the Panthers in the loss.

Grey’s team bounced back to get a 66-61 win over Noxubee County in MLK Day action Monday. Noxubee ran out to a 22-15 lead before Brookhaven High began to take control of the game.

Perkins scored 12 points in the win and senior center Anthony Sanders added 11 points as did senior point guard Demeriuntia Jackson.