T-Boy Lynch is the only senior on Brookhaven Academy’s varsitybasketball team. Lynch took control of Tuesday night’s MPSA ClassAA State Tournament game in John R. Gray Gymnasium, sacking 35points in the Cougars’ 91-55 waltz past Canton Academy.

The Cougars (29-5), the 2-time defending state champions,advance to Friday night’s semifinals. They’ll play the winner ofthe Central Private-Marshall Academy game at 7:15.

Delta Academy’s boys also won Tuesday, beating Bowling Green52-43. Win or lose Friday, all four semifinalists advance toSaturday’s finals, either the consolation or championshipgames.

Marshall and Central Private play today at 5:15. In the otherboys bracket game, Copiah Academy meets Leake Academy at 7:45.

Lynch, a 5-foot-11 standout, broke Canton’s back with breakawaylayups off BA’s pressing defense. He had 25 points at halftime andexited the game at the start of the fourth quarter as Coach DaleWatts began major substitutions.

Lynch expressed his appreciation for the loud vocal supportprovided by the BA fans and student body seated behind the bench.”The crowd helps our team a lot. It helps our intensity. I like theway they jump up and down.”

Asked about his leadership role on the team, Lynch said, “Coach(Watts) is our team leader. We have to come out fired up for everygame if we are going to win state again.”

Besides his game-high total, Lynch had 5 rebounds and 4 steals.He was a perfect 8-for-8 from the free throw line.

“T-Boy is a scorer and a very good free throw shooter,” saidCoach Watts. Overall, his team was 16-for-19 at the charitystripe.

Canton (18-11), No. 4 out of the North, trailed by 16 points,49-33 at halftime. The Panthers reduced their deficit to 10 points,49-39, to start the second half and Watts called a timeout tosettle his team.

“Canton got us out of our press and they ran on us,” said Watts.”We turned the ball over several times and they got some easybaskets. I had our kids slow it down.”

The Cougars responded with a 19-0 run and led 68-39 on a layupby Josh Winborne. Daniel Lofton had 4 of his 11 rebounds during therun and Lynch scored 10 points.

Brookhaven’s quickness impressed third-year Canton coach JeremySumrall. The Panthers were making their first state tournamentappearance in 7 years.

“Brookhaven is fast,” said Sumrall. “We have not faced that kindof speed all year. Leake is fast but Brookhaven is faster. Theirdefense and transition game killed us.”

The Panthers got 18 points from Mason Canoy. He had 17 points inthe first half.

On the backboards, Winborne and Cory Dickerson each had 5rebounds. Lofton made 8 assists.

Delta 52, Bowling Green 43

Sixteen points by David McNutt and 14 by Kyle Corbin led Delta’sattack.

Bowling Green got 14 points from Trent Graberi and 11 fromTrevor Thomas.