Every week we’re spotlighting a program from around Lincoln County for our Team of the Week, presented by Bank of Brookhaven.

(Photo by Hannah Hutson)

The Brookhaven Academy girls’ basketball team is off to an 11-3 start for the 2025-2026 season.

The Cougars will begin district play on Tuesday, when they host Park Place Christian Academy in John R. Gray Gymnasium.

Maxpreps has PPCA as 10-1 on the season, but the Crusaders have not faced the type of schedule played thus far by BA.

Two of the losses this season for Coach Drake Flowers and his team were against a powerful East Rankin Academy group. The ERA Patriots won 65-35 at BA on Saturday.

That snapped what had been a nine-game win streak for the Cougars.

Junior guard Ann Rylea Thurman is carrying the scoring load for the Cougars after being an MAIS 4A All-State selection last season as a sophomore.

Flowers is assisted by Hannah Hutson and Lillie Gates.

There are only two seniors on the roster in the Tate twins, Mary Anson and Susanna. Mary Anson has been out with an injury of late and as a whole, the roster is starting to come together as several players missed time earlier with various ailments.

Juniors on the team include Thurman, Caroline Case, Ali Hall, Bailey Douglas, Ava Kirkland, and Ruth Ellen Gates.

The sophomore class is made up of Joleigh Langham, Lily Smith, Peyton Davis, Mattie Leggett, Bellah Dunaway, Jessi Covington, and Swayze Poole.

Managers are Micah Henning and Ramsey Caroline Waldrup.

The entire roster got playing time when Y’all Sports caught a recent 60-12 win for Brookhaven Academy at home over Copiah Academy.

Thurman scored 18 that night while Hall and Poole added seven points each. Langham and Kirkland each scored six points while Case and Douglas chipped in four points apiece. Covington, Smith, Davis, and Susanna Tate each scored two points in the win.

The best win of the season for Brookhaven was a 56-50 triumph at Jackson Academy.

On Friday, Flowers and his squad will face another top 4A opponent in their district foes from Madison-Ridgeland Academy.

On Saturday, BA is back in the friendly confines of Gray Gymnasium with a matchup against Adams County Christian School.

That’ll be the last home game for the Cougars until January 6, when they’ll host Simpson Academy.

Brookhaven Academy will play at Simpson for a holiday tournament on Dec. 29 and they’ve also got road games coming up at Tri-County and Copiah on Dec. 19 and 20.