Brookhaven Academy’s championship cruise almost sank. TheCougars found themselves in the crosshairs of the Leake AcademyRebels Wednesday night in jam-packed John R. Gray Gymnasium. Cougarfans breathed a deep sigh of relief as their favorites dodgedLeake’s upset torpedo and escaped with a 48-47 victory in the firstround of the MPSA Class AA State Tournament.

Brookhaven Academy junior guard Jeremy Winborne and histeammates overcame a 13-4, first-quarter deficit. They compensatedfor ice-cold shooting by playing intense defense. The Cougarsfinally found their offense in the second half and built a 7-pointlead in the fourth quarter.

“I told my teammates to play up to their ability,” saidWinborne. “Our shots weren’t falling but we could still playdefense. Our team showed a lot of heart tonight.”

Sophomore forward T-Boy Lynch sparked the comeback with agame-high 15 points. His layup, off a steal and assist by AlanGray, gave the Cougars a 4-point cushion with 1:41 left toplay.

Winborne finished with 13 points and tacked on a pair ofinsurance free throws with 1:25 remaining. That gave the Cougars a48-42 lead. Leake’s Matthew Wilkerson hit a short jumper and AustinAgent tossed in a trey as the game ended.

The Cougars (32-1) advance to Friday’s semifinals and playPrairie View at 7:30 p.m. Win or lose, they’ll play again Saturdaynight, either in the 6 p.m. consolation or 7:30 championship.

In other first-round action Wednesday, the Leake girls trouncedTrinity Episcopal 90-49 and the Simpson County girls clipped AdamsChristian 32-30. In the other boys game, Winston Academy smashedTrinity 71-44.

Winston plays Clarksdale Lee in the 6 p.m. boys semifinals game.In Friday’s afternoon session, the Leake girls play Simpson at 1and the Brookhaven girls play Indianola Academy at 2:30.

“We didn’t shoot the ball well, by any stretch of theimagination,” said BA boys coach Dale Watts. “I’ve often asked ourkids during the season, ‘What do you do when the shots don’tfall?'”

The answer was defense. “We defended real well,” said Watts. “Wemade them (Rebels) work to score baskets. Our kids found a way towin.”

Leake (29-9), the No. 4 team out of the North, was averaging 75points per game. The Rebels produced a sizzling first quarter andcapitalized on Brookhaven’s cold shooting. The Cougars were1-for-15 from 3-point range in the first half.

The Cougars warmed up in the third quarter. A trey by Lynch tiedthe score at 23-23 with 6:08 showing. They took their first lead ofthe game at 30-29, when senior guard Cole Hodges drained a treyfrom the top of the key, sending the crowd into a frenzy.

When Gray and Hodges sacked back-to-back treys, the Cougars led43-36 with 7:15 left to play. Watts placed his team in a delayafter the Rebels cut the deficit to 43-40 with 6:33 left. They ran3 minutes off the clock before a turnover gave Leakepossession.

“I think the delay worked to our advantage,” said Watts. “Leakecan shoot and run so well.”

The Rebels, with 4 seniors in the starting lineup, got 13 pointsfrom Jordan Gilmer. Agent had 12 points and 9 rebounds.

“We knew coming in it would be a hostile environment,” saidLeake coach Phil Shepard. “Brookhaven Academy has great fans and webrought a big crowd with us..

“Our guys executed the game plan,” Shepard added. “Brookhavenresponded every time they needed to in the second half. We wantedit to be a 4-point game in the last three minutes.”

On the backboards, Seth Davis led the Cougars with 9 rebounds.Lynch provided 7 steals and Winborne made 4.

Winston 71, Trinity 44

Jon Duncan scored 15 points, Luke White 14 and Brandon Jennings11 in Winston’s victory. Trinity got 11 points from StevenRidley.

Leake 90, Trinity 49

Greggina Tadlock’s 18 points paced Leake past Trinity’s girls.Ryan Dees and Allison Phillips netted 12 points apiece. RebeccaWilbanks added 11.

Mallory Archer’s 21 points directed Trinity.

Simpson 32, Adams 30

Twelve points by Kate Hubbard led Simpson past Adams. CasieHilton netted 10 points.

Mattie Geohagan had 12 points for Adams.