For the second time in three years, the Brunswick High Pirates basketball team made it all the way to the big show. This time, the state championship eluded them.
Coach Chris Turner’s Pirates went head to head with Langston Hughes High School from Fairburn, Georgia, for the 2017 GHSA Class AAAAAA championship. Unfortunately for the blue and gold, they came out on the losing end of a 73-52 contest.
“We are really proud of the Pirates and what they were able to accomplish this year,” Turner said. “The team got better every day, and our players and coaches brought their best every day in practice. We also played a very tough schedule that ended up helping us advance all the way to the championship.”
The championship game was played at the 10,000-seat Stegeman Coliseum at the University of Georgia in Athens. A large contingent of those in attendance were from the Golden Isles cheering on their Brunswick team.
Despite 14 points by Marcus Scott and 10 each from Kymani Dunham and Derrick Lampkin, the Pirates lost control of the game in the fourth quarter and were outscored by the Panthers 26-8 in the final stanza. Langston Hughes, which had the lead most of the game, was led by 26 points from Landers Nolley, a junior with offers from nearly every major college program in the nation.
It has been four long months and 32 games since the Pirates began their journey toward a second state title run. It started in November with an 86-73 overtime win against Savannah power Johnson High School. During the season, Brunswick split a pair of games against Liberty County and their star, Auburn signee Davion Mitchell. They also defeated Beach High twice and took two out of three against cross-town rival Glynn Academy. One of Brunswick’s few losses this season was to Ohio school Olentangy Liberty at a tournament in Gwinnett County.
Brunswick boasted its own star player, center and In the Game January cover athlete Kymani Dunham, who was strong in the post all year. Dunham signed on for a scholarship to play at the College of Charleston next year.
Brunswick won the Region 2-AAAAAA championship by beating Effingham County in the tournament final just a week after they had lost to the Rebels. With a No. 1 seed, the Pirates then made an improbable run through the state playoffs, first defeating Forest Park and then getting a two-point victory over Dacula. A big win over Tobias Oliver and Northside Warner Robins led to a final four berth at Fort Valley State University, where the Pirates beat North Cobb to get to the championship game.
In 2015 the Pirates defeated Allatoona to win the Georgia Class AAAAA championship under coach Turner.
“After not making the tournament last year, our program was on a mission to get back and make a run in the playoffs,” Turner said. “Even though we didn’t win it all, we got the opportunity to play for it, and that’s all you can ask for.”
The 2017 championship game marks the final high school court appearances for Pirate seniors Kymani Dunham, Derrick Lampkin, Danijah Gammage, Wiley Golden, Deandre Delegal, and Chris Reid. Brunswick ended the season at 23-9 and ranked second in the state.
“I want to thank all our players, coaches, administration, teachers, radio stations, and fans for the amazing support we received during this run,” Turner said. “Our fans and community were behind us the entire way, and I’m forever grateful. Hopefully through a great basketball team and season, our fans and community have grown and gotten closer.”
SE-SF-0417-Brunswick basketball
By Rob Asbell
Pirates Fall Short of a Second Title
