Staff writer
The Peabody-Burns High School senior night battle of the Warriors Feb. 23 went to Berean, 68-48. The contest ended the regular season and the team will now prepare for a first-round sub-state game at home.
Berean
Berean took the early 6-point lead in the matchup. Sean Jones put PBHS on the board with a 2-point basket and Jacob Simmonds tacked on a free throw to cut the Berean lead to 6-3.
Berean added two baskets, but Simmonds had two free throws for PBHS. Simmonds and Aaron Topham each added a basket in the last 3 minutes. Simmonds came up with one more from the line to make the score 16-10 at the end of the first period.
Early in the second quarter, Simmonds added 2 points. Berean added a basket but Topham answered with a 2. Berean scored 4 points, but baskets by Simmonds and Topham kept the margin at 3, 21-18. Berean responded with a free throw and Topham came up with a basket. With 2:24 on the clock, Brian O’Neal cut the Berean edge to just 1 with a basket. Berean again came back with a score. Isaac Burnett scored a free throw for the PBHS squad but Berean had the 5-point advantage at the half, 28-23.
The third quarter was a tough one for the PBHS Warrior squad. Berean outscored the home team, 22-11. Simmonds and Topham each had 4 in the period. Hofkamp had 2 points and O’Neal had a free throw. PBHS trailed, 50-34, at the end of the third.
Berean continued to build on the lead in the final period of the contest. PBHS had 14 points, 3 each from Burnett and Storm Pickens, and 2 each from Jones, Simmonds, O’Neal, and Hofkamp. Berean defeated PBHS, 68-48.
Simmonds led the offense with 16 points, Topham 12, O’Neal 5, Burnett, Hofkamp, and Jones 4 each, and Pickens 3.