AMITE, La. – The Brookhaven Academy Cougars and Lady Cougarscaptured the District 4-AA Tournament titles Saturday night in OakForest Acadmey’s gymnasium.

The Brookhaven Academy boys posted a big 72-34 win over ColumbiaAcademy and the Lady Cougars defeated Oak Forest 45-29 in a revengematch.

Named to the All-Tournament boys team from Brookhaven Academywere Paul Coker, Craig Smith, Chase Magee and Layne Moreton.

Brookhaven Academy advances to the South State Tournament thisweek at Leake Academy in Carthage. The tournament will be heldTuesday, Wednesday, Friday and Saturday. Brookhaven’s opponentswill not be determined until completion of Saturday’s games.

In Friday’s semifinals, Brookhaven whipped Oak Forest 58-25 andthe Lady Cougars smashed Columbia 49-17.

Powering Brookhaven (28-2) with 17 points and12 rebounds was senior center Paul Coker. Craig Smith pumped in 13points. Scoring nine points apiece were Jimmy Latham and JonathanWinborne.

“I thought our defensive game and depth were very good, saidBrookhaven Academy boys coach Dale Watts. “We stepped forward.”

Brookhaven jumped on Columbia for a 16-8 lead at the end of thefirst quarter. At halftime, Brookhaven commanded a 33-15 lead.

Morris Lowery and Garrett Douglas led Columbia with eight pointsapiece.

In the semifinals, Coker led Brookhaven againwith 21 points and 11 rebounds. Latham followed with eight points.Cole Smith had four steals.

“We started a bit slow,” explained Coach Watts. “We subbed withfour minutes left in the first quarter and that group did realwell. Our depth has been our real strength.”

Brookhaven led 12-9 in the first quarter and went on a 13-4 runin the second quarter to go into the first half 25-13. A 20-6 runby Brookhaven gave them a 45-19 cushion going into the finalframe.

Dylan Chapmam had seven points for Oak Forest.

The Lady Cougars (28-3) were led by Ancy Myers with 11points and Anna Gatlin with 10.

“We played really good half-court defense tonight,” saidBrookhaven Academy girls coach Barry Gray. “It was about the bestdefense we’ve played.

“We killed them (Oak Forest) on the glass, too,” saidGray. “Our rebounding was probably our second best area. I thoughtour guards did a real good job of dribble penetration after theybeat us in overtime,” about a week ago.

The Lady Jackets had beaten Brookhaven 40-36 in overtimelast Fridy at Oak Forest. That loss broke a 5-year string ofdistrict victories.

“I hope this carries over into our South Statetournament,” said Gray. It was the fifth straight districttournament title for the Lady Cougars and one of the goals for hisseniors.

Gray said freshman guard Kelli Byrd did an excellent jobdefending Oak Forest’s leading scorer. “Our reserves have done agood job of pushing our starters in practice thisweek.

“The most impressive thing about my team is theircharacter,” Gray pointed out. “They have shown a lot of class andChristian character this season.”

Gray’s girls will play the loser of the EastRankin-Hattiesburg Presbyterian District 3-AA consolation game inthe opening round of South State, either Tuesday orWednesday.

In the semifinals, Myers led the Brookhaven girls overColumbia Friday with 14 points and eight rebounds. Leah Davisgrabbed seven rebounds, made three steals and had fourassists.

Robin Ramshur netted six points forColumbia.

@Bbstandings:BOYS CHAMPIONSHIP

Brookhaven Academy 72, Columbia Academy 34

Brookhaven (72) Paul Coker 17, Latham 9, Craig Smith 13,Winborne 9, Hodges 5, C. Magee 6, Moreton 4, Cannon 4, Co Smith 3,Davis 2.

Columbia (34) Morris Lowery 8, Garrett Douglas 8,Russell 7, Gary 6, Johnson 3.

Total fouls: Columbia 20. Brookhaven 16. Fouledout-None. Technicals – Drew Holder (Columbia.).

Free throws M-A: Brookhaven 11-21. Columbia8-17.

3-point goals: Moreton, Latham 2, Craig Smith,Hodges.

Brookhaven Acad.

16

17

17

22 – 72

Columbia Academy

8

7

13

6 – 34

FRIDAY NIGHT’S GAME

Brookhaven Academy 58, Oak Forest 25

Brookhaven (58) Paul Coker 17, Latham 8, Winborne 7, C.Magee 7, Co Smith 6, Hodges 5, Cannon 2, Havard 3, Davis 2, CrSmith 1.

Oak Forest (25) D. Chapman 2, Mitchell 7, T. Chapman 5,Travis 3, Lewis 3, Fitz 2, McDaniel 2.

Total fouls: Oak Forest 13. Brookhaven 12. Fouledout-None. Technicals-O. Forest.

Free throws M-A:

Brookhaven 8-14. Oak Forest 5-11.

3-point goals: Coker, Chapman, Lawson.

Brookhaven Academy

12

13

20

13 – 58

Oak Forest

9

4

6

6 – 25

FRIDAY NIGHT’S GAME

Brookhaven Academy 49, Columbia Acad. 17

Brookhaven (49) Ancy Myers 14, L. Davis 6, Gatlin 6,Byrd 4, L. Smith 2, Altman 2, Williams 8, Logan 2, Berry5.

Columbia (17) Robin Ramshur 6, Hinridasen 4, Stringer 2,Williamson 2, DeAngelo 1, Crawley 2.

Total fouls: Brookhaven 10. Columbia 13. Fouledout-None. Technicals-None.

Free throws M-A: Brookhaven 6-14. Columbia2-6.

3-point goals: Ramshur, Williams 2, Barry.

Columbia Academy

3

4

5

5 – 17

Brookhaven Academy

17

14

16

12 – 49