Brookhaven Academy boys basketball coach Dale Watts wondered howhis undefeated Cougars would play against Columbia Academy Fridaynight following Thursday night’s emotional 48-45 win over JacksonAcademy.

In the varsity girls game, Brookhaven Academy jumped on ColumbiaAcademy in the opening minutes of the first quarter and never letup as they cruised to a 68-49 victory.

Before the start of the varsity games, Brookhaven Academy’ssenior girls and boys team members and their parents werehonored.

Brookhaven Academy resumes varsity basketball play on Friday,Jan. 31 at Centreville. The junior high Cougar teams will behosting the District 4-AA Tournament set for Monday, Wednesday andThursday of this week. The Brookhaven teams are set to playThursday.

The Brookhaven boys (22-0, 11-0) got agame-high 23 points (including four 3-pointers), four steals andfour assists from senior forward Craig Smith. He scored 13 points,including 2 three-pointers in the first half.

“I was worried about rebounding off of last night’s win,” saidWatts after the game. “I felt Columbia could beat us. We played thegame well tonight. Our passing game has stepped up. Our timing andvision are much better. Our strength is that this team hasquickness and speed.”

Adding support for Brookhaven with 11 points and seven reboundswas Alan Oster. Cole Hodges and Alex Davis netted 10 points apiece.Cole Smith pulled down seven rebounds followed by Waldrop and Daviswith six rebounds apiece. Jimmy Latham had five assists.

Brookhaven led 15-12 at the end of the first quarters and pushedtheir lead to 39-23 at the half. A 17-6 run in the third quarterand a 24-19 run in the final frame secured the win.

Columbia (17-4, 8-2) was led by Morris Lowery with 19 points.Scoring 13 points was Daniel Johnson.

The Brookhaven girls (29-1, 11-0) had a greatfirst half performance from sophomore Abby Williams who scored 17of her game-high 19 points in the first half. Brookhaven roared toa 21-9 first-quarter lead and went up by 15 points, 39-24, at thehalf. A 25-10 run in the third quarter gave the hosts a 30-point,64-34 leading going into the final frame.

“We looked good,” said Brookhaven Academy girls coach BarryGray. “We were pretty intense.” Gray’s Lady Cougars were beatenThursday night by Jackson Academy 45-33.

“We ran the floor better than we have the last couple of weeks,”explained Gray.

Senior center Anna Gatlin fired in 13 points and grabbed fiverebounds. Guard Kelli Byrd followed with 11 points, three stealsand four assists. Jessie Altman collected five rebounds. Finishingwith seven assists was Lauren Smith.

Sarah Williamson paced Columbia with 11 points. Jessie Hunsuckerfinished with 10 points.

Junior High Action

Jeremy Winborne’s 20 points led Brookhaven to a 57-44 win overColumbia. Netting 18 points was Seth Davis. Orry Thomas had 10points for Columbia.

In the girls game, Brookhaven (23-4, 12-0) whipped Columbia45-26. Emily Langley led BA with 18 points, six rebounds, threesteals and two assists. Taryn Magee netted eight points forColumbia.

In the seventh grade game, the Brookhaven boyscrushed Columbia 40-18. Paxton King directed Brookhaven with 12points followed by Steven Watts with 10 points.