The Brookhaven Academy Cougars and Lady Cougars are looking to rebuild as they begin their 2015-16 basketball campaign.

The Lady Cougars will start their season Tuesday when they host the Prentiss Christian Lady Saints at John R. Gray Gymnasium for three games. The seventh grade girls will tip off the action beginning at 3 p.m., followed by the junior high girls and varsity girls.

The Cougars will officially kick off their season Nov. 9 when they join the girls on a road trip to Canton to take on the Canton Academy Panthers for four games starting at 4 p.m.

Brookhaven Academy head basketball coach Josh Watts will coach both the girls and boys varsity teams, along with junior high boys and seventh grade boys. Joining Watts as his assistant this season is Russell Cruise. Cruise will coach the junior high girls and seventh grade girls’ teams.

Watts now coaching Lady Cougars 

The Lady Cougars will have a new leader pacing the sideline as coach Josh Watts has taken over the program.

Watts replaces Mack Gardner, who coached two seasons, leading the Lady Cougars to back-to-back state tournament appearances and with an overall record of 34-38.

This season the Lady Cougars will rely on young, inexperienced players to begin the season.

BA lost three starters – Mary Claire White, Hillary Wilson and Anna Smith – to graduation last season. The Lady Cougars will also rely on seniors Leah Case and Edie Riley to provide leadership as BA embarks on the new season.

“We are looking forward to having Edie Riley back to start the season,” said Watts. “She battled through several injuries last season and we are glad to have her back full speed.”

BA has three returning starters – Anna Michael Smith, Sophie Wilson and Leah Case – back from last season to help direct the Lady Cougars.

“I am looking forward to coaching this group of girls,” said Watts. “They have worked extremely hard since this summer and we are ready to begin the 2015-16 season.

Cougars’ rebuilding 

Watts returns for his second season to coach the varsity boys as they look to improve on a 20-17 record last season.

The Cougars lost Drake Flowers, Peyton Hood, Caleb Brown and Trent Nettles to graduation last season.

Seniors Ross Felder, Austin Smith, Roger Rushing and Hunter Griffin will provide leadership in a rebuilding year. Smith and Felder are the only two starters back to begin the season.

BA will look to Luke Jackson, Dylan Winborne, Tate Felder and Ross Felder to take the shooters’ role after losing Hood to graduation.

Watts said that his Cougars are young and inexperienced, but the guys will continue to play hard and share the ball.

“The guys have worked hard this off season to get better,” said Watts. “We have a lot of young players on the team that we hope will help us continue improve through out the year.”

BA girls roster 

Seniors:  Leah Case, Edie Riley.

Juniors:  Sophie Wilson, Bailey Stewart, Anna Michael Smith, Shleby Flumm, Sissy Byrd, Anna Grave Covington, McKinley Evans.

Sophomores:  Cameron Watson, Kailyn Jordan, Summer Hill.

BA boys roster 

Seniors:  Ross Felder, Austin Smith, Roger Rushing, Hunter Griffin

Juniors:  Dylan Winborne, Colton Watson.

Sophomores:  Ethan Nations, Luke Jackson, Tate Felder, Jaden Smith

 

BA Schedule

November: 

3-Prentiss Christian (Girls Only)

9-at Canton Academy

10-WCCA

14-at Tri County

17-at ASC

21-Presbyterian Christian

23-24-at Parklane Classic

30-Nathchez Cathedral.

December: 

1-at Prentiss Christian

3-at WCCA

5-at Central Hinds

8-ASC

11-Simpson Academy

12-Central Hinds

18-Parklane

19- at Ben’s Ford

28-30-BA Christmas Tournament.

January:

5-ACCS

8-Laurel Christian

9-at Columbia Academy

12-at Simpson Academy

15-Centreville

16-Central Private

19-at Natchez Cathedral

22-at Laurel Christian

23-at Columbia Academy

26-at ACCS

February: 

2-6 Varsity District Tournament at ACCS

9-13 South State AAA at Columbia Academy

16-20 State AAA Tournament at BA

22-27 Overall Tournament at Mississippi College