The Escambia Academy boys’ basketball team won its final regular season game by beating Jackson Academy 59-53 Monday.

The Cougars opened the game on a 5-0 after Jordan Sasser hit a three-pointer and Garrett Kirk connected on a lay up. Kirk picked up two offensive board and made a bucket to give EA a 9-0 lead at the 5:36 mark of the first quarter.

Jackson cut the lead to 9-4 before Sasser hit another shot, putting the Cougars up 11-4. Sasser then connected on a shot that was set up by Josh Peebles to give EA a 15-7 lead with 1:20 left in the first.

Kirk connected again, giving EA a 10-point lead at 17-7. Jackson hit a three on its next possession, cutting the Cougar lead to 19-10 at the end of the first.

Jacob Dean connected on a shot to start the scoring in the second quarter. EA led 21-12 with 6:50 remaining.

Jackson connected on another three-pointer to cut the lead to 10, but Brett Helton hit a shot to put the Cougars up 28-16. A Jackson turnover allowed Sasser to score and put EA up 30-16 with two minutes left in the half.

Sasser hit a jump shot to put the Cougars up 32-16 at the half.

Jackson opened up the second half scoring with a three-pointer that brought the score within 10 points. Kirk got another rebound and a shot, putting EA up 14 at 34-20. Tehron Stallworth connected on the next possession to put the Cougars up 16 with five minutes left and Peebles put the Cougars up 38-20.

Jackson hit two three-pointers to cut the lead to 40-26, but Stallworth buried a three-pointer to put the Cougars up 43-26 with 1:09 left in the quarter.

After two more Jackson three-point shot and a Sasser jumper, the Cougars led 45-32. A Cougar turnover led to another Jackson bucket bringing the score to 45-37 at the end of the third.

Stallworth put EA up 10 after he grabbed his own rebound with 5:34 left, but Jackson answered on its next possession to cut the lead to eight. Blake Quimby knocked down a shot with 4:52 left to give the Cougars a 10-point lead at 49-39.

Peebles extended the lead to 51-39. Jackson answered, but Sasser hit a three-pointer to increase the Cougar lead to 13 at 54-41 with 4:18 left.

After an answer from JA, Peebles knocked down a three-pointer to put EA up 14. JA answered again with a three, but Maleek Salter knocked down a jumper 59-46. Jackson made the last seven points of the game.

The Cougars are set to play Tuscaloosa Academy in the region tournament at 3 p.m. Thursday in Selma.

“I feel like if we play up to our capabilities we’ll be right there in the game,” coach Kevin Woods said.

Woods said he has seen film on TA and knows they like to play an up-tempo style of offense with man and a full-court press on defense.

“I think we’ll be prepared for them,” Woods said.

A win Thursday puts the Cougars in the state tournament.