COLUMBIA — Producing a balanced scoring attack Saturday night,the Brookhaven Academy Cougars cruised to the MPSA Class AA SouthState Tournament championship, crushing Columbia Academy 70-49 inthe title test. Brookhaven placed five players in double figures,led by Seth Davis and T-Boy Lynch with 15 points each. JeremyWinborne chipped in 14 points, Alan Gray 13 and Kurt Perkins11.

The BA Cougars (31-1) advance to the MPSA Class AA StateTournament at East Rankin Academy in Pelahatchie. They will playEast Rankin, the No. 4 team out of the North tournament in theopening round.

In the consolation boys game, Copiah Academy beat Prairie View66-63 in overtime.

“This is the second year in a row for us to win it,” said BACoach Dale Watts. “I’m extremely proud of our players. They werefocused. We came out of the blocks and started fast against a goodColumbia team.”

In the girls championship, Adams Christian took the South crown,beating Columbia Academy in the finals. Natchez Trinity defeatedBowling Green in the consolation game.

“We didn’t play well by any stretch of the imagination,” saidColumbia coach Reid McKay. “Brookhaven shot the ball extremelywell, so it was hard for us to come back.”

Watts watched his team cruise to a 44-22 halftime lead overColumbia. His BA Cougars sprang to a 25-13, first-quarter lead.

On the backboards, Winborne led the Cougars with 5 rebounds.Davis had 4 rebounds and 3 blocks. Gray collected 5 steals. Davisand Winborne each had 4 steals.

Perkins dished out 6 assists. Davis and Winborne each had 4assists.

It was the fourth time for the BA Cougars to beat Columbia thisseason. Columbia was led by Dustin Hofer’s 17 points.