The Brookhaven Academy Lady Cougars took care of business Wednesday at Copiah Academy in the first round of the MAIS 5A South State Tournament.

The team led Cathedral School 20-10 after the first quarter and then held their opponents from Natchez scoreless in the second quarter on the way to a 71-20 victory.

BA moves on to face Central Hinds Academy Friday at 4 p.m. in a semifinal game.

Coach Ron Kessler’s team beat Central Hinds 49-34 in Raymond earlier in the season.

Senior forward Abby Grace Richardson ate Cathedral up inside as she finished with 20 points, including an 8-of-9 showing at the free throw line. Senior point guard Anne Brantley Warren, recently named the District 4-5A MVP, scored 15 points for the Lady Cougars.

Emma Gates scored eight points, Madison Moak added seven points, Emily Claire Felder chipped in six points, Lillie Gates scored six points and Bailee Goodson scored five points for BA. Sophomore Braelynn Byrd scored three points and junior Kyla Armistad rounded out the BA scoring with one point.

Warren, Moak and Goodson were all recently named MAIS All-Stars.

Cathedral got a team-high nine points from senior Lauren Dunbar.

Central Hinds beat Silliman Institute 44-34 in a first-round game on Wednesday. The other girls’ semifinal has host Copiah Academy playing Bowling Green Friday at 6:30 p.m. All four semifinalists move on the MAIS 5A State Tournament next week at BA.