Brookhaven Academy’s Cole Hodges realized a rare achievementThursday night in the championship finals of BA’s Holiday Classic.Hodges recorded a quadruple double, sparking the Cougars to a 74-47trouncing of Hillcrest Christian Academy in John R. GrayGymnasium.

Hodges, a 6-foot, 190-pound All-Lincoln County senior guard,accounted for 19 points, 10 assists, 10 rebounds and 10 steals asthe Cougars made a successful title defense and improved theirrecord to 15-1 on the season. Teammate Seth Davis scored acareer-high 32 points in the victory, plus grabbing 14 reboundsagainst the taller Hillcrest squad.

Hodges said his team played extremely well the second half afterleading 33-28 at halftime. “I felt like we were all clicking. I wasfinding the open guy on those assists. Coach (Dale) Watts wascalling some perfect plays to get the short jump shots. Seth reallystepped it up big tonight.”

Watts provided a fiery halftime sermon which inspired hisCougars. “I’ve been coaching these kids since they were in juniorhigh. I told them at halftime that this game will boil down towho’s the toughest. They made up their minds to suck it up and gettough.

“Cole has really stepped up his leadership role,” Watts pointedout. “My big concern was Hillcrest’s size. Seth really played hardin the paint.”

When Davis cashed in a 3-point play with 6:52 left in the fourthquarter, the hosts claimed a 20-point, 58-38 lead. Jeremy Winbornescored on a putback and a short jumper for a 66-40 lead with 4:40remaining. Winborne finished with 14 points and 6 steals. Alan Graygrabbed 7 rebounds.

Hillcrest coach James Crain complimented the champions.”Brookhaven Academy got on us the second half and outhustled us.All of them can handle the ball and they are well-coached. They’relike a machine.”

Crain spent 27 years as a coach and administrator at Mendenhallbefore taking the job at Hillcrest this year. He coached Mendenhallto state championships in 1982 and 2000 in a 24-year career.

Hillcrest (12-5) got 16 points and 8 rebounds from center JayTaylor. Len Taplin added 11 points. Nick Burcham had 10 points and7 rebounds.

Delta 37, Central Private 19

In a consolation game, Delta got 13 points from Ty Sinquefieldand 9 from Kyle Corbin. Central Private was led by Tyler Edwardswith 6 points.