The Trinity Episcopal Lady Saints picked up a convincing 21-point win against the Brookhaven Academy Lady Cougars Saturday afternoon, but the varsity boys fell just short, 54-48.

After trading baskets in the first quarter, the Lady Saints offense erupted for 37 points in the second and third quarters and held Brookhaven Academy to just 14 en route to a 61-40 win.

“We beefed up our defense,” said Lady Saints head coach Fay Minor of the adjustments her team made after the first quarter of play. “We came out in man to man, then changed to a 3-2, to where we could put pressure on the sides and pressure up top. That was a big difference.”

Another big difference in the game was the play of Dionna Jackson, who led all scorers with 24. Jackson was a force down low, grabbing rebounds and finishing at the rim on countless occasions.

“Dionna is really coming into her own,” Minor said. “She has learned to rebound and handle the ball and is doing great.”

The Lady Saints were also feeling it from behind the three point line, where Tali Beard and D’Asia Mitchell both knocked down multiple shots.

“This is probably her best game by far,” said Minor of Beard. “I was really proud of her. She was shooting well, playing defense aggressively, and I appreciate that.”

Beard finished with 11 points and Mitchell added 13. The Lady Saints also benefitted from 14 points by Sloane Young.

With a few games under their belt now, Minor said she is feeling confident in her team.

“I think we are doing great,” she said. “We are coming together as a team, starting to gel, and that is what I like about this team.”

The varsity boys game was back and forth with Trinity and Brookhaven Academy going back and forth until the final buzzer. Brookhaven led by five at half, but Trinity was able to come back and take their own five point lead into the final quarter of play.

But the Saints were unable to stop the Cougars, giving up 22 points in the fourth quarter and taking the loss.

“It was a lack of experience of being in that situation, both coaches and players,” Trinity head coach Zach Rogel said. “They switched some things up. They’ve been there and you can tell. They are a well coached ball club.”

Austin Smith and Peyton Hood scored all the points in the fourth for Brookhaven, and the Cougars held Trinity star Tommy McCoy in check down the stretch.

McCoy finished the game leading all scorers with 21 points.

McCoy also got some help from younger players on the team, like Demond Fleming, who finished with eight points.

“He is looking more and more comfortable,” said Rogel of Fleming. “He’s mature on the court for being a ninth grader, and his role is up to him.”