Both Brookhaven Academy teams went unblemished in back-to-back performances over the weekend, cracking down hard on Bowling Green Friday evening and sneaking past Jackson Prep Saturday.

The Cougars and Lady Cougars traveled to Franklinton, Louisiana to take on the Bowling Green Buccaneers in Friday night basketball action. The near capacity crowd in the tight confines of the Buccaneers’ home gymnasium were expecting to rekindle some of the memories of Bowling Green and Brookhaven Academy battles of years past, but the BA squads had other ideas.

BA controlled both contests early, dousing any expectations of nail-bitter finishes. In workman-like fashion, the BA boys picked up a convincing 54-36 win, and the Lady Cougars followed suit, coasting to their conquest of the Lady Bucs by a score of 66-56.

In varsity boys’ action, the Cougars knew they would be facing an undersized but pesky Buccaneer defense and would have to be on point to take over the game early. BA answered the call and churned their way to a 16-point advantage after the first frame of play. The Cougars kept up the pace, securing a 26-16 halftime lead on their way to the eventual 54-36 win.

Tate Felder led the balanced BA scoring attack with 16 points. Ethan Nations and Cade Brown each had 12 points in support. Luke Jackson tossed in nine to add to the Cougar total. Nations also pulled down 10 rebounds in his night of work on the boards.

Connor Comeaux led the Buccaneers with 11 points.

In girls’ action, the Lady Cougars came in aiming to set the tone early and that’s just what they did, jumping out quick to a 16-point advantage at the end of the first quarter of play. The ladies from BA cruised to a comfortable 35-17 halftime advantage, seemingly in total control.

As the second half got underway, the Lady Buccaneers began to hit their stride and pulled within nine points as the teams moved into the fourth and final quarter. The Lady Cougars steadied the ship and were able to answer any late Lady Buccaneer runs to secure the 66-56 win.

Junior Jana Case led BA and all scorers with 28 points. Case also pulled down nine rebounds. Kailyn Jordan and Macy Smith each had 12 points to add to the BA scoring ledger. Jordan added six rebounds and had four steals. Cameron Watson rounded out the Lady Cougar scoring leaders with nine points.

Calli Seal led Bowling Green with 20 points.

The academy returned to its winning ways the following day, facing off Saturday afternoon with one of the perennial powerhouses of the MAIS as the Jackson Prep Patriots visited the John R. Gray Gymnasium.

Not since 2004 had the Cougars and Lady Cougars swept Prep, but that would change in a pair of defensive struggles. In battles to the wire in both games, the Cougars escaped with a 30-28 win while the Lady Cougars skirted past the Lady Patriots, picking up the 34-33 victory.

In varsity boys’ action, the Cougars saw themselves down early in the first quarter by a score of 10-1 before they reeled off 11 straight points to take a 12-10 lead at the close of the first eight minutes of play. The slim lead gave BA head coach Josh Watts the opportunity to slow the pace and force the Patriots to defend corner to corner in the half-court set. The Cougars and Patriots found themselves in a seesaw contest that would go to the wire.

Trailing by a single point with the game clock grinding down, the Cougars ran their pick-and-pass offense to perfection, freeing BA junior Dawson Flowers at the top of the key where he drained a three-point dagger with just 3.8 seconds to play. His shot secured his team’s two-point win.

Flowers led BA and all scorers with a 13-point evening of work. Cade Brown added nine points to the BA scoring total. Flowers also pulled down seven rebounds.

Morgan Williams led Jackson Prep with seven points.

In girls’ action, the Lady Cougars came out a bit sluggish and were ice cold from the perimeter, but their defense kept them in the game until they could get their offense back in gear.

Trailing by two points at the midway break, the Lady Cougars were able to outscore the Lady Patriots 16-13 in a low scoring second half and escape with the narrow one-point win. A desperation shot by the Lady Patriots fell harmlessly off the mark as the buzzer sounded.

Jana Case was the scoring leader for BA with a 21-point afternoon. K.K. Jordan added six points in support. Case also pulled down five rebounds and had three steals.

Kiarri Little had 10 points to lead Jackson Prep.

Both BA teams will be back in action tonight as they travel to Natchez for four games against the Adams County Christian School Rebels. Junior high girls’ first tip is set for 4 p.m.