The host Brookhaven Academy boys successfully defended theirDistrict 4-AA title Saturday night with a 73-45 win over ColumbiaAcademy in the championship game in John R. Gray Gymnasium in abattle of Cougar teams.

In the consolation boys game, Bowling Green knocked off SillimanInstitute 73-60.

All four teams advance to South State this week in Mendenhall atSimpson County Academy.

Brookhaven Academy improved to 28-3 with the win. Columbia fallsto 21-7 with the loss.

The Brookhaven boys jumped on Columbia 19-7 in the firstquarter. At halftime, the host Cougars led 41-13. Both teams scored32 points in the second half.

“I thought we played real hard,” said Brookhaven Academy boyscoach Dale Watts after the win. “The biggest difference in thefirst half was the transition game. We forced the ball down thecourt and put them out of their game.”

Powering Brookhaven with 15 points apiece were post Seth Davisand guard Jonathan Winborne. Center Alex Davis fired in 14 points,grabbed 16 rebounds, made eight steals and had seven assists.

Following with 12 points, five rebounds and four assists was BAjunior guard Cole Hodges. Jeremy Winborne finished with ninepoints, six rebounds, six steals and four assists. JonathanWinborne also grabbed four rebounds.

“They came out and guarded us and took us out of our game plan,”stated Columbia Academy boys coach Reid McCoy. “We cannot have abad game against a good team. Their speed, ball-handling andshooting is impressive and I hope we don’t have to play themagain.”

Scoring 15 points and grabbing seven rebounds for Columbia wasTravis Pace. Thomas Gray netted 11 points and collected fourrebounds. Tops off the backboards with nine rebounds was WhitneyBranch.