Healing GPS Bruisers roll past Brainerd

photo Brainerd's Jakira Walker, left, is pressured by GPS's Brianna Farris (24) in the first round of the Best of Preps basketball tournament at Chattanooga State Thursday.
photo Girls bracket

Before the season, GPS basketball coach Susan Crownover was worried about her team's two weeks between games going into the Times Free Press Best of Preps Tournament.

Then sickness hit her team during the layoff, and that gave the Bruisers time to get well. And well was exactly how they played Thursday.

Akia Harris had 17 points, seven rebounds and four assists as the Bruisers (7-3) cruised to a 53-34 victory over Brainerd. They will face Cleveland, a 56-40 victor over Silverdale Baptist, in tonight's semifinals at 7 at Chattanooga State.

Brianna Farris added 13 points for GPS despite some sickness of her own. The Bruisers had 23 offensive rebounds.

"I thought we played decent offensively," Crownover said. "We hit some good shots and ran the offense well. We ran the ball up and down the floor and got the ball in the hands of Akia when we needed to."

The biggest number for Crownover was 14 -- her players who got in the game, which should them rested for tonight's matchup against the team they defeated in last year's BOP final. They went on an 18-4 run to end the first quarter, and the lead never dropped below double figures after a score by Reagan Williams 37 seconds into the second quarter.

Anisha Douglas had 12 points for the Lady Panthers (4-6), who shot 21.6 percent from the floor and had only one assist.

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