CLINTON — First-year head coach Vincent Askew and his Rossville(Tenn.) Academy Rebels are on a roll. Fresh from winning the MPSAClass A State Tournament title, the Rebels disposed of BrookhavenAcademy’s Cougars 73-68 Wednesday in the quarterfinals of theOverall Tournament.

The Rebels (32-4) advance to Thursday’s semifinals and faceMadison-Ridgeland Academy in Mississippi College’s A.E. WoodColiseum. Jackson Prep plays Jackson Academy in the othersemifinals game today. Championship finals are at 3 p.m.Saturday.

“We play good team ball,” said Askew, a former NBA standout whoplayed 10 of his 13 professional seasons with the SeattleSuperSonics. “Brookhaven was well-coached and they beat our traps.They got it to the middle and broke it down”

Askew’s Rebels weren’t assured of a victory until Dylan Royalrebounded his missed free throw with 5 seconds left to play.Royal’s unexpected rebound and putback ended Brookhaven Academy’scampaign. The Cougars (34-5) had eliminated Clarksdale Lee Academyin overtime Monday night.

Brookhaven Academy head coach Dale Watts realized his team wasoutmanned physically in size and depth but he was extremely proudof his team’s hustling performance. “Our kids gave a great effort.They had us outmanned in several spots, especially coming off thebench.”

Watts did not make a substitution in the hard-fought game.

“I wish we could have rebounded that missed free throw at theend,” said Watts. He won Overall titles at Parklane in 1982 and1990.

The Cougars had closed within 3-points, 71-68 with 8 secondsleft on the clock when junior guard Cole Hodges sacked a trey fromNBA range. They quickly fouled Royal on the inbounds play. Royalmissed the first three throw but snared the long rebound and stuckit back in after the second miss.

Rossville had forged a 10-point, 56-46 lead at the start of thefourth quarter on a trey by guard Tonekio Bush. A layup by JeremyWinborne cut the lead to 69-65 with 14 seconds left. One secondlater, Royal made 2 free throws, making it 71-65.

The Rebels were strong inside and outside. Glen Hardy, a6-foot-5, 250-pound post, worked inside for 15 points and 10rebounds.

From the outside, Rossville pumped in 10 treys. Bush led allscorers with 24 points and made 5 of 9 from 3-point land. Royalfinished with 15 points.

Hodges led 5 Cougars in double figures with 18 points. JonathanWinborne netted 14 points, Jeremy Winborne 13, Alex Davis 12 andSeth Davis. 11.

On the backboards, Alex Davis had 9 rebounds. The Cougars made57 percent of their field goal attempts and were 7 of 14 from3-point range.

Rossville shot 52 percent from the field and made 36 percent ofits treys.