Brookhaven Academy’s boys moved one step closer to a successfultitle defense of their Holiday Invitational crown Thursday night.The Cougars roared past Copiah Academy’s Colonels 61-44 in thesemifinals, powered by T-Boy Lynch’s game-high 28 points.

The Cougars (13-1) will face McComb Parklane Academy tonight at7:40 in John R. Gray Gymnasium. Parklane (11-1), coached by BA gradRicky Gray, whipped Marshall Academy 54-43 last night.

Two consolation boys game are set today as Hillcrest playsCentral Private at 2:20 and Copiah meets Marshall at 5. In anotherconsolation game last night, Hillcrest beat Bowling Green71-42.

“It will be a battle against Parklane,” predicted BA boys coachDale Watts. “They are a strong team with a great post player inTyler Cunningham.”

Watts said he was pleased with his team’s performance late inthe second quarter and in the third frame. The Cougars increased a37-22 halftime lead on a pair of field goals by Lynch, a putback bycenter Seth Davis and a trey by Lynch, making it 48-24.

“My big concern is consistency,” said Watts. “Hopefully, we canget better.”

Lynch also had 6 rebounds and 2 assists. Jeremy Winbornecontributed 11 rebounds and 5 assists to the victory. Alan Gray had4 assists and 4 steals.

Copiah coach Michael McAnally praised the Cougars. “Theiroffense is strong but they give us the most trouble defensively.They are so quick at denying the passing lanes and makingsteals.”

McAnally’s Colonels (4-6) are just starting to get their acttogether after a long football season which saw several of hisplayers on the Class AA state runner-up team.

“We got our football players late and then we had a break forChristmas,” said McAnally who is in his third year at Copiah. He isa Jackson Prep graduate.

“Brookhaven Academy has a lot of tradition,” said McAnally.”When I was at Prep, I played in this gym. Coach Watts does a greatjob. We all wish we had a program like his.”

Guard Bennett Wilson paced Copiah with 21 points, sacking 5treys. Will Ervin had 6 rebounds.

Parklane 54. Marshall 43

Twenty-two points by Tyler Cunningham carried Parklane pastMarshall. Kyle Adams added 10 points.

Marshall got 15 points from John David Sanders and 10 from JohnGreer.

Hillcrest 71, Bowling Green 42

Andrew Kemp pumped in 21 points for the Hillcrest Cougars.Korlandus Lewis and Mike Stiple each had 12 points.

Ten points each by Kevin Bond and Dustin Hall directed BowlingGreen.