Brookhaven’s Sientianna Collins could not be stopped.
The senior guard and Ole Miss commit plastered 34 points in the girls’ Region 5-5A Tournament championship game Friday night as No 1 Brookhaven beat No. 3 Laurel, 54-39.
"Collins' is hard to stop," said Lady Tornadoes head coach Sherri Cooley. "She's a player. She has size, can handle the ball, and can shoot the three. She's just a complete player. She'll do great things at the next level."
Brookhaven earns a first-round bye in next weeks’ playoffs. Laurel enters as a two seed and will face Long Beach at home Monday night.
“We’re excited,” said Cooley about the upcoming playoffs. “Our girls battled well against a team that has blown us out twice. I think that’ll help us as we go into the postseason and get to play a home game.”
The first 16 minutes of Friday night’s game was a battle for both teams. In two periods of region championship basketball, there were 12 lead changes. The final lead change of the first half - and eventually the game - came at the buzzer on a jump shot by Collins outside the paint.
Brookhaven led 24-22 at the break and outscored the Lady Tornadoes in the second half to secure the win.
"We made too many turnovers [in the second half]," said Cooley. "Against a team like Brookhaven, you can't afford to make that many turnovers. Brookhaven pressed us in the second half, causing us several turnovers. That's when the momentum changed."
Points:
Junior guards Zoey Cooley and Kassidy Ulmer led Laurel in double-digits with 16 and 13 points, respectively.
What’s Next:
No. 2 Laurel (14-15) plays host to Long Beach (3-23) Monday night in the first round of the MHSAA Class 5A playoffs. Tip-off is set for 6 p.m.
Note:
No. 4 South Jones stunned No. 2 West Jones in the girls consolation game, 40-34. The Lady Braves advance to postseason play as the No. 3 seed and plays on the road Monday night in the first round at Pearl River Central.
