BROOKHAVEN — What was a good game for three innings didn’t end up that way as the Brookhaven Academy Cougars ended the season for ACCS, defeating the Rebels 12-2 in five innings Thursday night.

With the win, Brookhaven Academy (20-3) swept the best-of-three series in the first round of the Class AA South State Playoffs and will await the winner of the Prairie View-Central Private series in the South State semifinals. ACCS finished with a record of 12-13.

Britton McCall got things going for ACCS with a two-run home run off Tyler Parvin that gave the Rebels a 2-0 lead in the top of the first inning. After that, Parvin settled down and pitched four scoreless innings.

However, Brookhaven Academy struggled offensively against Rebels pitcher Luke Brumfield. The Cougars didn’t get their first run until the bottom of the third inning and yet they still trailed 2-1.

“It was a pitching battle for the first two innings. Later on, things didn’t bounce our way,” ACCS head coach Hunter McKeivier said. “But you have to give credit to coach (Stephen) Cooksey and his team. They’re a good-hitting ball club and they put the pressure on us.”

The Cougars scored six runs in the bottom of the fourth inning to take the lead for good at 7-2. Kolby Byrd keyed the rally with a grand slam home run. Then they added five more runs an inning later to end the game early.

“(Byrd’s grand slam) was the backbreaker,” McKeivier said. “But I’m proud of the way my team has fought hard. They never used any excuses and they tried to get better.”

T.J. Johnson went 2-for-3 and Brumfield had a triple to lead the Rebels at the plate.