Brookhaven Academy’s basketball teams tackled a tough challegeall the way around Saturday afternoon as they faced JacksonAcademy. Lady Cougars coach Barry Gray and his team, in what mostwould call a major rebuilding year, found themselves facing what isconsidered one of the best teams in the MPSA.

>After a hard-fought game, the Lady Cougars found themselveson the losing end of the scoreboard, falling 55-42 to the LadyRaiders.

The BA boys fell 61-37.

JA 55, Brookhaven 42

Betsy Lynch scored 19 points and had two steals as Brookhavenfell to 5-2 on the young season. Carissa Bacon scored 19 points andJalessa Taylor added 14 as the Lady Raiders improved to 1-1 on theseason.

“We started off slow in the first quarter,” said Gray. “The lastthree quarters we played about as well as we could, but we werejust overmatched”.

The Lady Cougars were able to pull within 5 points at 33-28midway through the third quarter, but Jackson’s easily noticableheight advantage began to take it’s toll.

“We wanted to use our size advantage inside,” said Lady Raiderscoach Jan Sojourner. “Carissa Bacon did a good job in the paint. Iknew Barry would try to find a way to make us shoot outside wherethey could defend us better, but Carissa did a good job reboundingand putting points on the board.”

Kellie Brady added 9 points and 8 rebounds in support of Lynch,and Holly Case chipped in 6 points and 7 rebounds.

JA 61, BA 37

In the boys game, Jeremy Winborne scored 12 points to leadBrookhaven as the Cougars fell to 1-1 on the season. Jackson, ledby Rob Pucketts 22 points improved to 2-0.

“We were just outmanned,” said Brookhaven coach Dale Watts. “Wearen’t as good right now as we think we are, but the big thing is,we were just outplayed. We didn’t shoot the ball well from the lineand our passing was no where near what it should be.”

Brookhaven was within striking distance at halftime, trailing31-19, but the Raiders outscored the Cougars 30-18 in the final twoframes to cement the win.

“It was a sloppy game all the way around,” said Jackson coachBill Ball. “We had a slight size advantage, but Brookhaven didn’tplay anywhere near to how they are capable of playing. Both teamsmade mistakes, but luckily for us .Brookhaven made more mistakesthan we did.”

T-Boy Lynch scored10 points in support of Winborne and KurtPerkins added 8. Seth Davis led with 10 rebounds. Winborne finishedwith 4 rebounds. Lynch made 5 steals.

Brookhaven Academy hosts East Rankin Tuesday night for a fourgame set. The junior varsity girls tip things off at 4 p.m.