Kim Klunk didn’t dunk the basketball Friday night, but the 6-foot senior proved to be a dominant force in leading the McComb Parklane Academy Lady Pioneers to a 53-47 victory over the Brookhaven Academy Lady Cougars. Klunk accounted for a game-high 21 points and 13 rebounds in John R. Gray Gymnasium.

     “Kim is a special player,” said Parklane coach Ricky Gray, a BA graduate. “She is a 6-footer who can handle the ball. She’s a straight-A student, too.”

     Klunk’s acute accuracy at the free throw line is standard procedure. Her smooth shooting touch made 17 of 18 freebies.

     Gray said, “She works at shooting free throws. She was in a car wreck two days ago, so she’s a little stoved up.”

     Gray’s girls raised their record to 6-12 on the season. The Lady Cougars (4-13) were no match for Parklane’s depth and physical strength but they applied full-court pressure, caused numerous turnovers and stayed in contention.

     For the game, the Lady Pioneers committed 32 turnovers, including 12 in the second quarter. They held a narrow 24-22 halftime lead.

     BA coach Bruce Allsup praised his team’s performance. “Our girls kept battling and I’m proud of them. We caused a lot of turnovers.

     “Parklane gave us trouble matching up,” Allsup continued. “They had us beat strengthwise and in size. Klunk beat us with free throws. We couldn’t stop her.”

     Klunk received double-digit scoring support. Brittany Moak and Taylor Nelson, two transfers from Enterprise, scored 12 and 11 points respectively. Nelson grabbed 4 rebounds before fouling out and Moak had 5 boards.

     The Cougars gained a 21-20 lead on 2 free throws by Caroline Stewart, with 1:45 left in the first half. They led 22-20 on a free throw by Becca Harvey before Moak sank a short jumper and a pair of free throws for a 24-22 halftime lead.

     Parklane raced to a 10-point, 32-22, third-quarter bulge on a field goal by Nelson. Klunk’s 2 free throws gave the Pioneers a 36-29 lead entering the fourth quarter.

     Junior guard Madison Warren led BA’s attack with 16 points.  Guard Lindsey Winborne chipped in 12 points and 7 rebounds.

     BA had 22 turnovers in the loss.

Junior High Results    

In the preliminary junior high girls game, Parklane posted a 42-17 victory, paced by Carrington Jefcoat’s 13 points. Terrah Nelson netted 9 points and Milsada Smith 5.

     BA got 7 points from Shelby Fluan.