By CURTIS ROCKWELL/Sports Director

PERKINSTON — The Harrison Central boys basketball team has been on a bit of a roll since the calendar flipped to the new year.
In fact, the only loss for the Red Rebels since the calendar flipped to 2024 came at the end of January to Ridgeland 56-51 in the annual and prestigious “Rumble in the South” at A.E. Wood Coliseum on the campus of Mississippi College.
But, unfortunately for veteran head coach Boo Hardy’s squad, they faced yet another team from the Jackson area in Saturday’s first-ever Class 7A South State Quarterfinal here at Dantzler Arena on the campus of Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College
And, the result was the same.
Brandon overcame a slight first half deficit and knocked off Harrison Central 62-54 to end the season for the Red Rebels Saturday night. The Bulldogs advance on to the first-ever Class 7A Final Four Thursday afternoon at the Mississippi Coliseum in Jackson. Brandon (18-11) will face rival Clinton as the Bulldogs make their second consecutive trip to The Big House.

“Tonight just wasn’t our night,” said Hardy. “Give Brandon credit, they’re a good team. It was a great game and we missed some opportunities with shots and free throws. We had a super year. We kept grinding and figured somethings out and got hot at the right time and I’m super proud of this team.”
.Harrison Central led 30-28 at halftime, but the second half belonged to Brandon.
The Bulldogs went on a 6-1 run to begin the third quarter to take a 34-31 lead and never trailed again. Brandon held a 46-42 lead at the end of the third quarter.
In the fourth quarter, Harrison Central cut the Bulldog lead down to 48-46 but the Bulldogs got a three-pointer from Braylon Barnes and a three-point play from Nate White to stretch their lead out to a 54-46 lead.

The Red Rebels would slice the deficit to 54-50 on a 3-pointer by senior standout shooting guard Aujaylen Barron trying to keep their season alive, but that would be as close as Hardy’s crew could get as Barnes sealed the win for Brandon with a three-point play with 15 seconds left to give the Bulldogs the final 62-54 lead.

Barnes finished with 24 points to lead Brandon, while White added 15 points for the Bulldogs.
Barron had 24 points to lead Harrison Central, while Shaun Murray added 11 points for the Red Rebels (23-9).
The Red Rebels came into the game winners of 12 out of their past 13 games for HCHS since January 3rd and Harrison Central had also won 17 out of its last 19 games before the season-ending loss.