The host Brookhaven Academy Cougars and Lady Cougars posted apair of wins Thursday night in the opening round of their HolidayClassic.

The Brookhaven Academy boys hammered Marvell, Ark., 53-26 andthe Lady Cougars crushed Centreville Academy 53-31.

In the other tournament games yesterday, the Prentiss Christianboys dumped Centreville 67-56, the Prentiss Christian girls fell toMt. Olive 53-35, the Copiah boys clipped Simpson 58-55, the Copiahgirls nipped Marvell, Ark. 59-57, the Parklane boys bounced CentralHinds 48-40 and the Parklane girls smashed Central Hinds 56-39.

In today’s games, the host Brookhaven Academy girls face Mt.Olive at 7 p.m. and the Cougars meet Prentiss Christian at8:20.

Also today, the Central Hinds girls meet Marvell, Ark. at 1:40,the Centreville boys face Marvell, Ark, at 3, the Copiah girlsbattle Parklane at 4:20 and the Parklane boys square off withCopiah at 5:40.

The Cougars (10-1) roared to a 19-0 lead overcold-shooting Marvell, Ark. in the first quarter. The Cougars wereup 28-0 with 4:16 left in the second quarter when Josh Dunlap hit alayup to put Marvell’s first points on the board. At the half,Brookhaven led 34-9.

Brookhaven Academy boys coach Dale Watts led his subsplay in the third quarter as Marvell took advantage for a 14-0 runand cut the deficit to 34-23. In the final frame, the Cougarstarting lineup returned for a 19-3 run and eventualwin.

“We have 14 guys on the team,” said Watts after the win.”I am really working and trying to work on our depth chart. We havenine players deep.”

Watts substituted his second team in the third quarterto get them more experience. “In the third quarter, we didn’t doreally as well as we do,” stated Watts. “I wanted them to get someexperience.”

Leading the Cougars with 12 points was Craig Smith. PaulCoker fired in nine points, grabbed five rebounds and blockedblocked three shots.

Blake Laigone paced Marvell, Ark., with 12points.

The 13-1 Lady Cougars had a tough first half with thetalented Centreville Academy Lady Tigers. “Centreville Academy isvery athletic. They are very quick,” said Brookhaven Academy girlscoach Barry Gray.

Lauren Smith’s two-pointer at the buzzer gave the LadyCougars a two-point, 23-21, lead over the Lady Tigers.

In the second half, Brookhaven quickly went out to afour-point 25-21 lead. With the score 25-23, the Lady Cougars wenton a 12-2 run to take a 37-25 lead into the finalframe.

“Angie Davis came off the bench and got us in the game,”said Gray. “I was proud of the way Anna Gatlin established herperimeter game in the second half.”

Gatlin fired in 16 points, grabbed seven rebounds andhad four assists for Brookhaven Academy. Ancy Myers netted 12points and pulled down seven rebounds. Angie Davis followed with 10points. Leah Davis collected six rebounds and had four assists.Kelli Byrd made four steals and Lauren Smith had threesteals.