By Brandon Shields
Special to the Post

BRANDON — It wasn’t pretty, but a win is a win for Brandon coach Fred Barnes.
Neither team’s offense found a rhythm Tuesday night, but Brandon managed to beat Warren Central 59-49 in a clash of two Class 6A playoff teams from a year ago.

Warren Central (4-5-1) will have a quick turnaround with Lanier coming into town on Thursday night and a recent slide to stop. The Vikings have lost three of their last five games, and also were credited with a tie when their game with Vicksburg was halted in the fourth quarter because of a wet court.

“I thought tonight they (Brandon) was a little tougher than we were,” said Warren Central coach Bruce Robinson. “I think my big man can’t get a foul call when we throw it inside. For us right now we don’t understand the team concept and we are a little selfish.”

Jaquevias Tarvin scored 17 points to lead Brandon, while Tyree Cochran added 11.

Jabari Bowman had a game-high 18 points to lead Warren Central, while Jalen Glass added 16.

“We’ve got a tough schedule ahead and we’re trying to get ready for January,” Robinson said. “We’ve got to learn to play as a team and to play with a rhythm on offense.”
Brandon (9-3) never trailed the entire game.

The Bulldogs built a 17-11 lead at the end of the first quarter and went up by as many as 13 points in the second before going into halftime ahead 36-24.

After trailing 48-34 at the end of the third quarter, the Vikings cut the deficit to seven midway through the fourth quarter at 50-43. The Bulldogs got a 3-pointer by Tarvin, a layup by Devontae Lyles, and went 4-for-8 from the free throw line late to pull away.

Brandon hit seven 3-pointers in the game, but was only 14-for-27 from the free throw line.

“It was a win for us, but I think it was a sloppy effort,” Barnes said. “We struggled but fought through it. Credit Warren Central. Their big man (Bowman) wouldn’t allow us to attack the glass, so we had to settle for outside shots and their smaller guys took a lot of charges.”

(G) Brandon 64, Warren Central 58
Aniya Sanders scored a game-high 21 points, but it wasn’t enough to push Warren Central to the victory. She fouled out with about a minute and a half left and Brandon was able to pull away.
Brandon never trailed, but Warren Central got within one point, at 53-52, with three minutes left in the fourth quarter.

Te’Asia Sims added 17 points for WC (5-4).
Jamya Blue and Tandria Minor had 17 points each to lead Brandon (6-6), while Miyah Mann added 13 points and seven rebounds.Minor also had six assists.

“We didn’t come out and play well in the first half and in the second half we played a whole lot better,” Warren Central Darien Hilliard said. “I’m proud of the girls for playing hard. I just felt in the end the two charge calls against Aniya were the difference because she made both baskets. Got Lanier on Thursday and that’s kind of personal from me because I came from there, but we’ve got to control their guard and if we can take care of the ball, we should have a shot.”