Brookhaven Academy showed out this past weekend, with the girls and boys basketball teams clinching a state championship.

The Cougars took a low-scoring contest over Marshall Academy Saturday night to win the Class AA title for the first time since 2010. The Lady Cougars held off a strong comeback attempt Saturday to win the title 51-40. It was the first time both teams won a title in the same year in 13 years.

“I’m extremely proud for the school. I have had these kids since they were in eighth grade, and way back then they made a commitment to do this and saw it through,” said coach Josh Watts. “I can’t explain how much these kids mean to me, and no one knows how hard these kids worked. This was a big deal for me, being my first state championship, and I’m incredibly proud to share it with this group of guys.”

Girls coach Jason Case was just as proud of his team.

“I told the girls before we went on the floor, all God expects out of us is to get to the Red Sea. If we can get there with our effort, and have faith, He’ll open up the sea and we’ll win this game,” he said. “And the girls got to the Red Sea, and God did something great for us.”

Both teams will play this week in the MAIS overall tournament, but no matter the outcome there, they are already champions.

We congratulate the teams, coaches, parents and supporters who put in countless hours working toward this goal. They have given all of Brookhaven and Lincoln County something to be proud of.