With three injured players on a 10-man roster, BrookhavenAcademy boys coach Dale Watts didn’t have a lot of bench to go toTuesday night against Central Hinds. Watts didn’t need much benchas junior guard Jeremy Winborne pumped in 18 points and juniorcenter Seth Davis fired in 17 points to lift BA to a 45-37 win overCentral Hinds in a battle of Cougar teams Tuesday night in John R.Gray Gymnasium.

In the varsity girls game, senior center Kristian Davidson’s 17points helped direct BA to a 53-39 victory over Central Hinds.Guard Mallory Logan netted 12 points for the hosts.

The BA boys improved to 2-1 on the season and the defendingOverall State champ BA Lady Cougars improved to 5-0.

“We sucked it up and got tough, that was the difference in theball game,” said Coach Watts following the win. BA players PaulDavis and Price Sessums are recovering from football injuries.Senior guard Cole Hodges suffered a bad sprain against JacksonAcademy last week and sat out last night’s game.

With 4:05 left in the final frame, BA led Central Hinds 37-35.The host Cougars went to their spread offense to force the visitorsto foul. BA outscored Central Hinds 9-2 down the stretch to securethe win.

BA led Central Hinds 12-10 in the first quarter and 21-20 athalftime. Going into the final frame, the game was deadlocked at28-all.

Davis, who was 4-for-4 from the free throw lines, led BA off thebackboards with 12 rebounds. Winborne followed with three reboundsand made five steals. T-Boy Lynch collected four rebounds, madethree steals and had five assists. Grabbing three rebounds wasJerrod Rayborn.

Central Hinds (2-1), coached by Lincoln County native ShelbyWatts, got 10 points from Blake Edwards.

BA 53, Central Hinds 39

“We didn’t shoot the ball well, we weren’t focused as a team andwe didn’t play with a lot of energy,” said BA girls coach BarryGray, reviewing his team’s triumph.

The teams were tied 12-12 after the first quarter. BA came backwith an 18-10 run to go into halftime with a 30-22 lead. In thesecond half, the host Lady Cougars outscored their opponents 23-17to secure the victory.

Contributing to the BA win with nine points, five steals andthree assists was Lauren Smith. Davidson led off the backboardswith eight rebounds followed by Logan and Allyson Pickett with sixapiece. Logan also made eight steals and had six assists. EmilyLangley made three steals.

“I thought they (BA) played good,” said Central Hinds first-yearcoach Kevin Griffin following the game. “They are well coached andwell disciplined.

“I’ve tried all year to get them to run our offense,” addedGriffin. “I didn’t have to keep telling them to run it. They stuckwith it tonight.”

Pacing Central Hinds (5-5) with 13 points was senior forwardSara Kate Lackey.

Junior high action

Kolby Byrd’s 17 points helped spark the BA boys to a 49-24 winover Central Hinds. Adding 11 points was Sawyer Wallace.

Zag Hutson had 14 points for Central Hinds.

The Lady Cougars got 15 points from DrewHolland Tigner in their 54-17 whipping of Central Hinds. KelliBrady followed with seven points and seven rebounds.

BA travels to Simpson County Friday night and Central Private inBaker, La., Saturday.