BRANDON — Yes, the game ended in a tie, but each team got what they wanted: a playoff type of game in each of the teams first game back from the holiday break.

Brandon and West Lauderdale ended in a tight 2-2 tie in a battle of teams that could make deep playoff runs.

“That was a playoff atmosphere-type game, and it could’ve gone either way. Brandon has an outstanding team,” West Lauderdale coach Alex George said. “Coming off the break, both teams needed a physical game, and we both got that.”

It didn’t take long for the scoring to start as Georgia State signee Jocelyn Jones scored four minutes into the first half to give Brandon a quick 1-0 lead.

West Lauderdale answered when Ember Temple scored on a breakaway pass from Jada Smith to tie the game up at 1 with 15 minutes left in the first half.

“Both teams were one play away from taking a lead or something,” George said. “Brandon gave us the looks we needed. Our whole back line and goal keeper are new, so they grew up a lot tonight.” 

Bailee Fairley scoreed off a rebound to give West Lauderdale (12-1-2) a 2-1 lead 10 minutes into the second half. 

Brandon (10-2-2) answered a minute later with a goal by Bailey Raphelt that tied the game at 2.

Each team did have a chance to take a lead late in the second half. 

West Lauderdale’s Jada Smith took a shot that went through the Brandon goalkeeper’s arms, but Callie Minshew cleared right before the goal line for the Lady Bulldogs.

Brandon’s Jocelyn Jones had a breakaway shot ,but the West Lauderdale goalkeeper got a hand on the ball, and it went off the post.

“It was game that had everything that you wanted between two solid teams,” Brandon coach Jeremy Shortt saod. “It felt like the playoffs. I wanted to see how we would respond out of the holiday break, and we did a good job.”

With Brandon hosting the MHSAA Class 4A and 5A soccer state championships on Saturday, Feb. 10, the two-time Class 4A defending state champion Lady Knights will now focus on getting back to Brandon for a chance to three-peat.

“It’s good to come over here and play on this field so we can get an understanding the laying of the field,” George said. “We have some momentum now; this was a good statement for us as a team. We’re going to take this into divisional play and continue to press forward to try to get back here.”