CLINTON -High-powered Madison-Ridgeland Academy cleared thefirst hurdle in its quest for an MPSA Overall State Tournamentchampionship Wednesday night but it wasn’t easy. The Patriotsturned back Brookhaven Academy’s Cougars 52-49, led by 6-4sophomore Jim Owen’s 18 points.

MRA (30-4), the Class AAAA state champ, seeking its thirdOverall title and first since 1995, plays Delta Academy in Friday’ssemifinals. Christ Missionary & Industrial School plays CentralPrivate in the other semifinals game in Mississippi College’s A.E.Wood Coliseum.

The Cougars (32-5), consolation winners in the Class AA statetournament, were unable to match Monday’s opening round miraclewhen they beat Bayou Academy in overtime. At the end of the thirdquarter, MRA’s Tommy Haskins swished a half-court, buzzer beaterwhich gave the Patriots a 36-32 lead.

MRA pulled ahead by 7 points, 41-34, before the Cougars authoreda late rally. A short jumper by BA center Paul Coker cut MRA’s leadto 44-42 with 2:31 left to play.

The Patriots responded. They got a baseline jumper from Owen, 2free throws from Haskins and a breakaway layup from WilliamFincher, giving them a 50-44 lead with 19 seconds left to play.

MRA coach Richard Duease said he wasn’t surprised by the strongchallenge provided by Coach Dale Watts and his Cougars. “When weplay Dale’s team, we always have a pretty good battle. I look atthe coach first and I know we have to be very well prepared towin.”

Coker, a 6-6 senior, led all scores with 21 points and grabbed 7rebounds. Craig Smith added 11 points, Chase Magee 9 and Alex Davis8. Only four Cougars put points on the scoreboard last night.

“Coker is a very talented player,” said Duease. “We must do avery good job of defending the post to advance in thistournament.”

In a patient, low-scoring first half, MRA took a 22-20 halftimelead on a putback by Fincher. In the third quarter, the Cougarsregained the lead at 24-22 on Magee’s jumper from the lane.Brookhaven’s final lead was 28-27 on Magee’s 2 free throws with2:33 left in the third.

Watts said the Cougars needed a superlative effort on thebackboards to stay with MRA. “Everybody I talked to said the keywas to be able to rebound with them. We did a great job reboundingand kept them off balance.”

For the game, the Cougars held a 24-20 rebounding advantage.However, they had 17 turnovers compared to MRA’s 7.

“I knew the little baskets they make off steals and longrebounds would make a big difference,” said Watts. “Coach Duease isa good Christian man. My prayer is that our team is a strongwitness on the court. I’m proud of them.”

@Bbstandings:Madison-Ridgeland 52, Brookhaven Acad.49

Brookhaven (49) Paul Coker 21, Cr. Smith 11, C. Magee 9,Davis 8.

MRA (52) Jim Owen 18, Cummins 4, Haskins 10, Harrison12, Fincher 8.

Total fouls: Brookhaven 12. MRA 9. fouledout-none.

Free Throws M-A: Brookhaven 8-10. MRA10-14.

3-point goals: Haskins 2, Harrison, Magee.

Rebounds: MRA 20 (Cummins 5). Brookhaven 24 (Coker7).

Brookhaven Academy

6

14

12

17 – 49

Madison-Ridgeland

814

14

16 – 52