CLINTON – Lauren Adams provided the heroics Wednesday night inthe quarterfinals of the MPSA Overall Basketball Tournament. Adams,a junior guard, scored on a short baseline jumper with 15 secondsleft to play and then stole the basketball, preserving DeltaAcademy’s 42-41 upset of the Brookhaven Academy Lady Cougars inA.E. Wood Coliseum.

Brookhaven Academy (40-3), derailed in the Overall tournamentfor a third consecutive year, saw its title hopes dashed by theClass A State Tournament champions. The Lady Cougars lost startersLindsay Altman and Anna K. Gatlin to fouls and shot a cold 15 of 55in the field goal department or 37 percent.

Delta (42-3) advances to Friday’s semifinals and playsMadison-Ridgeland Academy at 2. Indianola Academy plays JacksonAcademy in the other semifinals game.

Jackson Academy upset Cruger-Tchula 44-37 and MRA eliminatedSilliman (La.) Institute 58-51.

In boys quarterfinals action in MC’s coliseum, Hillcrest ralliedpast CM&I 73-62 and MRA beat Rossville, Tenn. 62-52.

Brookhaven Academy had pulled ahead 41-40 on 2 clutch freethrows by Lindsey Phillips and 25 seconds left to play. Adamsappeared to be bottled up in the corner but she twisted past BA’sdefenders and made the winning shot.

“Adams is a player,” said Delta coach Craig Dailey. “There’snobody I’d rather have with the ball in that situation.

“This is a great win for our program,” Dailey continued. “Youwin championships with defense. Brookhaven played their hearts outbut we were able to beat their press.”

The Lady Raiders got a game-high 21 points from 5-foot-9freshman guard Lindsey Roy. Adams finished with 16 points.

“Roy is gifted but she works hard,” said Dailey. “She spendsabout two hours a day in the gym shooting. “She’s nearly worn outthe nets on our rebounding machine.”

Coach Barry Gray’s Lady Cougars were hoping to rebound fromtheir disappointing loss to Cruger-Tchula in the Class AA titlegame last Saturday at Grenada. They had beaten Jackson Prep Mondaynight in a grueling overtime contest.

“Our girls showed a lot of character,” said Gray. “We had toplay without two starters.

“I’m proud of our girls, especially our six seniors” Graycontinued. “They turned Brookhaven Academy basketball around andgot it back to the glory days.”

Phillips and Amy Smith both finished with 12 points. Altmanscored 11 points and grabbed 8 rebounds before fouling out with2:14 left in the game and Brookhaven trailing 39-35. Katie Newmanchipped in 5 assists and 2 steals.

The Lady Cougars got a short jumper from Phillips and a drivinglayup from Smith to pull their team within 1 point, 40-39, with1:07 left to play.

In the third quarter, Delta built a 10-point, 30-20 lead onRoy’s driving layup. Brookhaven started a 9-0 run which cut thedeficit to 30-29 on a trey by Smith, a field goal by Phillips, alayup by Gatlin and 2 free shots by Phillips.

Delta held a 26-23 rebounding advantage, led by Roy’s 7rebounds. The Lady Raiders hit 16 of 41 field goal attempts for 39percent.

Delta Academy 42, Brookhaven Academy 41

Delta (42) Lindsey Roy 21, Adams 16, Corbin 3, Fee2.

Brookhaven (41) Lindsey Phillips 12, Amy Smith 2, Altman11, A.K. Gatlin 3, Newman 3.

Total fouls: Delta 14. Brookhaven 18. Fouled out-Altman,Gatlin.

Free Throws M-A: Delta 9-17. Brookhaven10-15.

3-point goals: Smith, Roy.

Delta Academy 12 12 8 10 -42

Brookhaven Academy 15 4 10 12 – 41