A team can come into a season with expectations about who’ll play where and who’ll contribute what to the success of the program, but there are times where circumstances outside the control of mere teenagers can force those plans to be altered.

That’s the case for the 2024-2025 Brookhaven High girls’ basketball team, a group that entered the year with high expectations to get back amongst the best in MHSAA 5A after having a rebuilding season last year that ended with a 13-15 record.

What couldn’t have been foretold was two injuries to two starters in junior point guard Madison Benson and senior forward Bailee Gamble.

With those two on the shelf, everyone has a different role now than what might have been expected. It’s been a season full of teaching for BHS head coach Preston Wilson and his staff.

On Thursday, Wilson saw his team go down early but fight back for a 48-39 win over South Jones to open Region 3-5A play. It was a nice bounce back after the Panthers lost their last two outings against Mendenhall (47-43) and South Pike (35-16).

Benson went down early in the year and likely won’t be back. A speedy point guard, she was a player at the forefront of the pressure applied by the Brookhaven High defense that often relies on full court pressure. In her absence, sophomore point guard Aubrey Dampier is directing the offense.

It’s not known yet if Gamble will be able to return this season, but she’s a versatile, physical presence that’s also missed as she was averaging five rebounds per game before being injured.

With her out, Wilson is counting on more from 5-foot-10 sophomore Taylin Stallings and 6-foot freshman Sh’Nya Hill to control the boards along with 5-foot-10 senior Maleah Smith.

“We’ve got to keep working and get better play from our posts,” said Wilson. “Taylin stepped up tonight and gave us a spark early.”

BHS started the game with a basket and then fell behind 8-2 in the first quarter.

Stallings scored her first points of the game to make it 8-4 and then got the hoop and the harm on an and-one play that made it 8-7 after she made the free throw. Stallings finished with seven points for BHS.

SJHS led 10-7 after the opening eight minutes of action. The Braves from Ellisville fell to 1-13 with the loss.

Brookhaven got things rolling in the second quarter as the most experienced players on the roster started to flex their strengths.

Senior forward Zaniya Nunnery nailed a 3-pointer that put the Panthers ahead 14-12 early in the second quarter and forced a timeout by South Jones head coach Shameka Thomas.

Nunnery led the BHS offense with 11 points on Thursday.

Senior guard Sa’Nya Graham, senior guard Tiniah McDaniel, senior forward A’niyah Williams, sophomore forward Ariyonna Dixon, junior forward Jamaria Cook and junior forward Kema Roberts all had moments in the second half to help their team hold a steady advantage over South Jones.

Roberts, a state champion in the shot put for the three-time defending state champion BHS girls’ track and field team, is the leading scorer on the team and was picked for the Daily Leader All-Area team last year. She scored 10 points on Thursday.

Dampier scored four points while Graham, McDaniel, Williams, Dixon, and Hill each chipped in two points apiece. Smith scored three points as did Cook.

What Wilson knows is that no one is going to take pity on his team, as the program has had a period of sustained success among the top ranks of the 5A class.

From 2017-2023, Wilson’s team went a combined 140-30, with deep playoff runs each year including a runner-up finish in 2020.

“Nobody is going to take it easy on you because you’ve got a couple players hurt,” said Wilson. “So, we’ve got to keep working and keep improving and stay focused. There are some teams in our region off to a strong start this year, so it feels good to begin that portion of our schedule tonight with a win.”

Florence is a division foe that came into the season with state title aspirations. The Eagles are currently 10-4 overall while North Pike and first year head coach Ron Kessler are 10-1 overall. Natchez High has also started solidly, going 8-4 to begin the season.

BHS will play Tylertown and Bogue Chitto next week in the McComb Christmas Tournament. Region play resumes on Jan. 3 with a game at Provine. The Panthers then travel to North Pike on Jan. 7 and will host Natchez on Jan. 10.