By KEVIN ECKLEBERRY

Daily News

The short-handed LaGrange Academy Warriors hung tough early in Tuesday’s game, but it was home-standing Brandon Hall pulling away for a 61-32 victory.

Brandon Hall led 15-13 after the first quarter, but it outscored LaGrange Academy 22-3 in the second quarter to take a 37-16 lead at the half.

Brandon Hall outscored LaGrange Academy 23-16 in the second half.

LaGrange Academy was playing without injured senior guard Terence Broaden, and head coach Ken Klinger said his presence has been missed.

“We’re a different team when he’s there. He can beat the pressure,” Klinger said. “We can’t handle pressure right now.”

Senior post player Elijah Godfrey led the Warriors with 17 points, and Mark Mittasch added six points.

LaGrange Academy (2-6) will be on the road again on Friday against St. George’s in Milner.

“I’m trying to build them up each practice and keep their confidence up,” Klinger said.

In Tuesday’s girls’ game, LaGrange Academy (2-2) lost to Brandon Hall 48-27.

Brandon Hall surged to a 24-8 lead after the first quarter, and it continued to pull away.

LaGrange Academy outscored Brandon Hall 11-0 in the fourth quarter to make the final score more respectable.

Sophomore Kelsey Cotton, one of LaGrange Academy’s many talented under-classmen, led the way with 10 points, including seven points in the fourth quarter.

Ivey Portis contributed six points.

“Kelsey has a couple of recruiters coming in,” said Bethany Howard, LaGrange Academy’s second-year head coach. “There’s a travel team looking at her with a bunch of Division I and Division II athletes. We’re going up there Sunday. That would be good for her.”