It was raining Delta Academy treys Thursday night in John R.Gray Gymnasium. Brookhaven Academy responded with an umbrelladefense and held off the Lady Raiders 51-49 in the championshipfinals of the Holiday Classic.

The Lady Cougars (16-1), making a successful title defense,stepped up their perimeter defense in the second half. Delta seniorguard Graham Carson pumped in a game-high 29 points, sacking 8treys in the process. She had 17 points and 5 treys at halftime asthe Raiders held a 34-32 lead.

“Delta played hard,” said BA girls coach Barry Gray. “They catchand shoot it as well as anybody we’ve played. Their ball-handlerswere able to break our press and that’s what we live by.”

Delta (17-6), coached by Craig Dailey, held its largest lead at37-32 when Sara Grace Long sank a trey from the corner at the startof the third quarter.

The Cougars came to life as senior guard Kelli Byrd hit a shortjumper from the lane for a 37-37 deadlock. Emily Langley sank alayup and Byrd cashed in a baseline drive for a 41-37 advantagebefore Delta regrouped.

Delta took its last lead at 49-48 when Carson canned a trey with3:01 left to play. Delta’s Long missed the front end of a freethrow bonus with 2:23 left.

Brookhaven’s Mallory Logan scored on a putback for a 50-49 lead.Kristian Davidson grabbed 4 rebounds in the the last 2 minutes ofthe game and Byrd’s free throw with 12 seconds left gave the hostsa 51-49 advantage.

“We did a better job defending the second half and weoutrebounded them,” said Gray. “It was a great game to watch.”

Byrd led the triumph with 20 points and 3 rebounds. Guard LaurenSmith added 13 points and 4 assists. Davidson finished with 9points and 9 rebounds. Logan had 4 assists and 4 boards.

PCS 50, Simpson 39

In a girls consolation game, Presbyterian Christian School ofHattiesburg got 25 points from Lori Bernardo in the win overSimpson. Anna Patterson added 11 points.

Simpson was led by Casie Hilton with 16 points and Kate Hubbardwith 15.

Central Private 42, Copiah 26

Seventeen points by Sonni Kirkwood paced Central Private pastCopiah in another consolation game. Ashley Peairs added 10points.

Julie Hawkins led Copiah with 6 points.