With their 16th victory in as many games, the Escambia Academy Cougars are off to the best start in school history.

The No. 7 Cougars (16-0, 4-0) earned the victory with a 55-46 win over the Sparta Warriors in Evergreen on Tuesday night.

The win also marked the fourth time this season that the Cougars have beaten Sparta.

The Academy was led by Darren McGhee and Brandon Goddard who each scored 13 points in the victory. McGhee finished the game with a double-double as he also pulled down 15 boards and recorded two assists and one steal, while Goddard recorded three rebounds and a steal.

Cougar Keaton Maher also finished the game with a double-double recording 12 points and 14 rebounds, four blocks and a steal.

Tanner Kirk finished the game with nine points for EA, while pulling down two boards and recording two assists.

EA’s Jaylen Henry recorded four points, four assists, two rebounds and a steal in the win and Garrett Kirk scored two points.

Wesley Steadham and Blake Quimby rounded out the scoring for the Cougars scoring one point each.

Cougars 62

Rebels 44

Escambia Academy dominated the South Choctaw Academy Rebels in an area match up last week.

The Cougars led the game from start-to-finish as they held off second and third quarter charges by the Rebels.

In the first quarter, the No. 7 Cougars jumped out to a comfortable lead by opening the game on a 21-15 run.

In the second quarter, the Cougars and Rebels battled back-and-forth as they each scored eight points to go into halftime with the Cougars leading 29-23.

Following halftime, the Cougars and Rebels continued to fight up and down the court with neither side giving way..

The Rebels finally cut into the Cougars’ lead in the third quarter, as they outscored EA 13-10 to pull within three points.

Leading 39-36 at the start of the fourth, the Cougars turned on the pressure and dominated the quarter outscoring the Rebels 23-8 to pick up the win 62-44.

The Cougars were led by double-doubles by Keaton Maher, Tanner Kirk, and Darren McGhee. Maher led with 16 points and 13 rebounds; Kirk finished with 15 points and 10 boards and McGhee recorded 12 points and 13 rebounds.

Cougar Brandon Goddard added seven points, two steals, one rebound, one assist, while Jaylen Henry recorded five points, four assists, three rebounds and a block.