Brookhaven bests Leake Academy 42-36
The Leake Academy Rebelettes’ quest for a 23rd state championship fell short on Saturday.
The Leake girls were unable to defend their Class 5A state championship as Brookhaven pulled away in the fourth period and took a 42-36 win at Pillow Academy.
Leake advanced to the championship game by beat Simpson County Academy 46-39 in the semifinals and Copiah 48-35 in the opening round.
Leake moves to 34-6 on the season and will advance to the MAIS Overall Tournament this week at Mississippi College and take on West Memphis Christian, the No. 2 team from Class 2A on Thursday at 3:30 p.m. The winner of that game gets the winner of Rossville Christian and Greenville Christian on Saturday at 12:30 p.m.
Brookhaven girls 42, Leake 36
The Lady Cougars pulled away in the fourth period and took a six-point win in the 5A title game on Saturday.
In a tight, defensive battle, Brookhaven led 8-7 at the end of the first period b before Leake outscored the Lady Cougars 10-8 in the second to lead 18-17 at the half. Each team scored 13 points in the third period as Leake led 31-30 going to the fourth.
Leake took four-point lead early in the fourth on a 3-pointer from Emeri Warrn to go up 33-29. But Brookhaven scored the game’s next six points to go up 35-33. Warren again hit 3-pointer and gave Leake the lead at 36-35. Brookhaven then scored the games last seven points as Leake missed several opportunities to tie the game and the Lady Cougars held on to take the win.
Leake was 9-of-37 from the 3-point line in the game in the contest. Warren led Leake with 17 points and five rebounds while Miriam Prince had nine points, four assists, three steals and three rebounds.
Leake girls 46,
Simpson 39
The Rebelettes used a big third period and built a big lead to beat the Lady Cougars by seven on Friday.
Morgan Freeny led Leake with 13 points, seven rebounds and three steals. Emeri Warren had 12 points and seven rebounds while Miriam Prince had 10 points, five rebounds and five steals. Allen Kaye Wilcox had eight points and four rebounds.
Leake girls 48, Copiah 35
The Rebelettes pulled away in the second half and took a 13-point win over the Lady Colonels on Tuesday in an elimination game.
Emeri Warren led Leake with 14 points and six rebounds. Morgan Freeny had nine points and six rebounds while Marleigh Myers had eight points and four rebounds. Miriam Prince had six points, three rebounds and two steals.
Oak Forest boys 60, Leake 38
The Rebels saw their season come to an end on Tuesday in the first round of the Class 5A Tournament.
“It was a great first year with these guys,” first-year coach Jason Morgan said. “We had 21 wins, a district title, and we got to go to state. Most of this team is back next year, and I am excited about the future here. I get to coach great kids at Leake.”
Samuel Prince led Leake with 12 points while senior Whitt Welch had nine points and three rebounds.
The Rebels ended the season with a 21-14 record.