Brookhaven Academy has had trouble this season closing out biggames. Five of the Cougars’ six losses have come in games in whichthey led in the fourth quarter before coming up short.

Brookhaven Academy made sure it finished the job in Tuesdaynight’s match with perennial power Jackson Prep. Brookhaven whippedPrep 55-40 as the Cougars improved to 18-6 overall in John R. GrayGymnasium. The victory avenged a 52-51 loss to the Patriots on Dec.4, in Jackson.

In varsity girls action, Prep used a 12-4 fourth quarter scoringadvantage to top the Lady Cougars 40-32.

Brookhaven 55, Jackson Prep 40

Senior guard Corey Dickerson scored a team-high 14 points andpulled down 5 rebounds as the Cougars jumped out to a 12-0 lead andnever looked back. Fellow senior guard Daniel Lofton followed with12 points and 5 rebounds.

“We did a very good job of finishing the game.” said BA boyscoach Dale Watts. “We have had a big problem with that this season.We would play well for three quarters and come up short but theguys did a very good job of making good decisions late in thegame.”

Prep closed the Cougar lead to 2 points in the third quarter butBrookhaven relied on clutch free throw shooting down the stretch tosecure the win.

“We knew coming down there that this was a very tough place toplay.” said Prep coach David Horner. “There is a lot of traditionin Brookhaven’s program and they always have a very good team. Youcan’t fall behind 12-0 to a quality team and expect to win thegame. It just doesn’t happen.”

Sumner Abraham led Prep with a game high 15 points as Prep fellto 20-6.

“We have been fortunate for the past five or six years to have avery, very tough sixth man.” added Watts, referring to theenthusiastic Cougar fan base. “We rely on that heavily, but thisyear it hasn’t been there. We need that strong support for thesekids.”

Jackson Prep 40, Brookhaven 32

Rivers Uithoven scored a team-high 10 points and Laura Colefollowed with 9 points as the Lady Pats improved to 21-5 on theyear.

Brookhaven took a 21-18 advantage at the half, but a stiflingPrep defense limited the Lady Cougars to just 11 points in thesecond half.

Prep’s bench outscored BA 12-zip.

Kelli Snider scored a game-high 13 points to lead Brookhaven.Anna Katelyn Mangold followed with 12 points and 7 rebounds asCoach Barry Gray’s Brookhaven team dropped to 23-3 on theseason.

Brookhaven hosts Natchez Trinity Saturday for Senior Night.Action begins with two seventh grade games, starting at 3 p.m.Varsity games start at 5:15 and 6:30 p.m.