The host Brookhaven Academy Cougars went on a 7-1 run in thefinal four minutes of play Thursday night to knock off the scrappyHeidelberg Academy Rebels in John Gray Gymnasium.

In the girls game, the undefeated Lady Cougars jumped on theLady Rebels early in the game to cruise to a 54-33 victory.

The BA boys (11-2, 3-0) broke a 44-all tie on a free throw byJeremy Winborne who followed up with a basket for a three-point47-44 lead with 5:55 left to play. Heidelberg (8-3) cut the deficitto one point, 49-48 on a field goal by Dusty Bass with 4:49 left toplay.

The Cougars answered back with a field goal from Cole Hodgesfollowed by a three-pointer from J.M. Winborne for a quick 54-49,five-point advantage with 3:48 left to play. BA ran time off theclock and forced the Rebels to foul.

“When your A plan is not up to par, you have to scratch andclaw,” said BA boys coach Dale Watts following the win. Wattsmentioned starter Landon Magee was out of action after spraininghis ankle in practice Wednesday. He had to alter his startinglineup.

“We started out real strong,” explained Watts. “Then Alex(Davis) got in foul trouble. It put us in the position to madeadjustments.”

The Cougars led the Rebels 18-15 in the first quarter and thegot behind 32-25 at the half. A 19-10 run by BA gave them atwo-point, 44-42 lead going into the final frame.

Hodges powered the Cougars with 17 points, including three3-pointers, six rebounds and seven assists. Jeremy Winborne pumpedin 12 points. Finishing with 10 points and four rebounds was SethDavis. Alex Davis collected six rebounds and made four steals.

Heidelberg, coached by Chris McDaniel, got 14 points from RyanYawn. Netting 12 points was Trevor Hickson.

The BA girls (16-0, 3-0) pounded on the LadyRebels (5-3, 3-1) 15-4 in the first quarter. The Lady Cougarscontinued to dominate in the second quarter for a 20-point, 32-12,lead at halftime. BA began substituting in the second half asHeidelberg outscored the Lady Cougars 13-9 in the third quarter totrim the deficit to 41-23. In fourth quarter play, the hostsoutscored the visitors 13-10.

“Our press bothered them,” said BA girls coach Barry Gray. “Wehad some spots where we played pretty good. Our free throw shootinghas got to get better.”

Directing the BA girls with 13 points and five steals was KelliByrd. Kristian Davidson fired in 12 points and had four rebounds.Jessie Altman, Mallory Logan and Emily Langley followed with ninepoints apiece. Altman pulled down four rebounds, Langley made foursteals and Logan had four assists.

Whitney Bass paced Heidelberg with 12 points. Jennifer Barnettfinished with eight points. Cynthia Brownlee coaches the LadyRebels.

Junior varsity

Holly Case netted 13 points and grabbed four rebounds to lead BAto a 35-9 win over Heidelberg. Kelsey Buckner scored four pointsfor the Lady Rebels.

In the boys game, the Cougars roared to a 52-14 victory over theRebels. T-Boy Lynch led BA with 17 points followed by Cory Baileywith eight points.

Brandon Shedd had six points for the Rebels.

BA hosts Bowling Green today for six games beginning at 2 p.m.Saturday, BA visits Copiah for six more games starting at noon.