PERKINSTON — For the fourth year in a row Brandon is headed back to the Big House.

 

Behind a stingy second half defense, along with the play of Braelyn Bailey, the Bulldogs got past Meridian 53-36 in the Quarterfinal Round of the MHSAA Boys Class 7A Basketball Playoffs at Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College’s Dantzler Arena on Friday night.

 

Brandon (19-12) will face rival Madison Central in the Semifinal Round of the Class 7A playoffs at the Mississippi Coliseum on Monday afternoon at 1:30 p.m.

 

“We decided we were going to turn up the intensity on the defensive end because those guys play fast, pass the ball, and a new group of guards and try to put some pressure on them and see if they could execute,” said Brandon coach Fred Barnes. “Bailey had a huge game and kept us ahead because our main scorer couldn’t get anything going.”

 

The first quarter was back-and-forth with Brandon holding a slim 14-12 lead at the end of the frame.

 

The second quarter was when Brandon began to pull away. The Bulldogs outscored the Wildcats 17-6 in the quarter and ended the first half on a 11-2 run to take a 31-18 halftime lead.

 

Midway through the third quarter Brandon went on a 9-0 run to take a commanding 43-25 lead and eventually held a 46-30 lead heading into the fourth quarter.

 

Bailey scored on back-to-back lay-ups to give Brandon a 50-34 lead and seal the game.

 

Bailey finished with a game-high 17 points to lead the Bulldogs.

 

“Meridian did a great job denying Braylen (Barnes) the basketball and Bailey stepped up and made shots until our defense took over in the second half,” Barnes said. “I told the guys at the beginning of the season when we were 3-7 that we were in South 7A. We are the best team in the South and the guys believed in the program and now we’re going back to Jackson.”

 

Joe Horne had 11 points to lead Meridian. The Wildcats finished the season 15-14.

 

“All credit goes to Brandon. The 1-2-2 gave us fits and we couldn’t answer, but if we made a couple shots, we’d still be in it,” said Meridian coach Ron Norman. “I’m proud of our kids and we did and the season we had to get this far and I think we overachieved.”