TUNNEL HILL, Ga. -- One could hardly blame Brannon Cooper if he gloated a little bit following a career-best basketball performance Tuesday night, but that's not the way it's done with the Heritage Generals.
Cooper, averaging nine points a game, poured in 32 as Heritage closed out the regular season in style with a 75-57 win at Northwest Whitfield. The Generals (22-3, 13-1) already had clinched the regular-season title in Region 7-AAAA -- the first outright region title in program history -- but Tuesday's game was a reminder of what has worked all season for coach Kevin Terry's team.
You never know who's going to be the star on any given night, but you do know that one attribute is going to shine each game.
"We've seen it all year and we saw it again tonight -- how unselfish the guys are -- and that's what's carried this team," Terry said after watching his talented stable of guards break down the Bruins' defense and set up Cooper for his big night. "They wanted to pressure us, but our guards did a great job of getting to the middle and kicking it to Brannon, who's not going to miss many."
Cooper was the key cog in a 22-10 first-period advantage for the Generals, as he scored eight points, including three baskets off feeds from point guard Jaylon Gaines. The lead was 16 at the half, and an 8-0 run, six points coming from Cooper, pushed the lead to 50-30 four minutes into the second half.
However, Northwest rode Grant Terrell's hot hand in a 16-2 burst that closed the gap to six before the night's star really took over.
After closing the third period with a layup, Cooper scored Heritage's first 13 points of the fourth quarter, twice putting back his own misses and continuing to get good looks from Gaines, Noah Hill and Tyler Childers. His three-point play with four minutes left pushed the lead back to 15 and sent many in the crowded gym home.
"Tonight we just kept moving the ball and hustling all over the place," said Cooper, trying to explain his scoring outburst. "I kept getting open and they kept finding me. Our guards made some great passes all night. Their defense kept sagging on them, and I was open."
Cole Wilcox added 12 points and a game-high 12 rebounds for the Generals, who have to get back to work Monday at the region tournament at Southeast Whitfield. Terry reminded his team that one bad game could ruin the magical season.
"I just told the guys that 22-3 is done with," he said. "We're 0-0 right now and we've got Gilmer County Monday night, and if we lose that game we're out of the playoffs. This is such a great accomplishment for this team, but we have to get back to work."
Luke Shiflett topped Northwest (15-9, 10-4) with 15 points.
Contact Lindsey Young at lyoung@timesfreepress.com or at 423-757-6296.