Two close games highlighted Wednesday’s quarterfinals action in the MAIS Class AA South State Tournament at Brookhaven Academy’s John R. Gray Gymnasium. The Oak Forest girls shaved Lamar School 47-46 and the Simpson County boys downed Oak Forest 72-70 in overtime.

In other quarterfinals action, Columbia Academy’s girls crushed Central Private 56-25 and Central Private’s boys bashed Trinity Episcopal 72-45. All four of Wednesday’s winners advance to Friday’s semifinals. The girls session is Friday at 1 p.m. and 2:15. The boys play that night. at 6 and 7:15. Saturday’s consolation and championship games will follow a similar time frame.

The top four teams out of South State advance to the State Tournament next week at Canton Academy.

Brookhaven Academy’s boys (22-11), seeded No. 1 out of District 5-AA, play Sylva Bay tonight at 6:30 in the quarterfinals. Laurel Christian plays Bowling Green at 7:45. In the girls bracket, Simpson Academy plays Silliman Institute at 4 p.m. and ACCS meets Bowling Green at 5:15.

Columbia 56, Cen. Private 25

Anna Wilks scored 13 points to lead Columbia’s victory. Meredith Bass chipped in 10 points.

Olivia Sheehan scored 10 points for the Lady Rebels.

Cen. Private 72, Trinity 45

Simpson Anderson’s 31 points powered Central Private. Thomas Kelly added 15 points and Jayden Kohen 12. Central Private plays Simpson in Friday’s semifinals.

Trinity got 10 points from Garrett Benson and Brandon Brooks.

Oak Forest 47, Lamar 46

Neal Hannah’s 10 points led Oak Forest in scoring.

Lamar was led by Olivia Mabry’s 27 points.

Simpson 72, Oak Forest 70, OT

Josh Hankins scored 26 points to lead Simpson past Oak Forest’s Yellow Jackets. Walt Prince chipped in 18 points and Andrew Berry 11. Berry’s 2 late free throws with 3.7 seconds left on the clock lifted the Cougars in overtime.

Oak Forest got 23 points from Devin Conti. Trent Burns chipped in 20 points and Tyler Hassin 12.

The BA Cougars, coached by Dale Watts, beat Trinity 51-39 last Friday to gain No. 1 seeding out of District 5-AA. They were led by senior guard Matthew Evans who accounted for 18 points, 6 rebounds and 6 assists. Will Hickman and Peyton Hood each had 13 points in the victory. Gage Posey grabbed 6 rebounds.

“Sylva Bay has 6-5 guy (Michael Ducksworth) in the post who is really good,” said Watts. “They have a good forward (Grant Nygaard) who can shoot the ball well. Overall, I think we match up pretty good against them.”

Watts said no tournament team can be overlooked. “It’s playoff time and you never know who is going to step up.”

Sylva Bay, located in Bay Springs, is coached by Tim Bean. The Saints beat Silliman Institute 50-42 in Tuesday’s opening round, powered by Ducksworth’s 23 points.