The Simpson Academy Cougars (Mendenhall, MS) basketball nipped the visiting East Rankin Academy Patriots (Pelahatchie, MS), 57-51 in Tuesday's league test.

The Cougars (7-6) will now prepare for their test against Heritage Academy (Columbus, MS). The Patriots go into the non-league test with a 7-1 record. In their last test, Heritage Academy got by Hartfield Academy (Flowood, MS), 34-19, in a non-league test.

The Patriots now own a 15-3 record. They play next when they host Park Place Christian Academy for a MAIS 5A District 2 test on Friday, December 8. East Rankin Academy will encounter a Crusaders squad coming off a 65-15 league loss to Leake Academy (Madden, MS). The Crusaders record now stands at 1-4.