NATCHEZ &045; As it’s been doing all year, Adams Christian won with its defense Tuesday night.

Thus far, that defense has gotten the Lady Rebels (18-5, 7-1 ) a great record and a spot atop the District 3-AA standings. Tuesday, it led them to a 36-18 win over Copiah (9-22, 3-5), avenging a loss to the Lady Colonels earlier this season.

&uot;It’s been a long time since we had a girls team that reached 18 wins this time of year,&uot; AC head coach John Gray said.

But the defense was a little different in this game. Instead of the Lady Rebels’ usual matchup zone, AC used two different pure zones to stymie the Lady Colonel attack.

&uot;We usually run a matchup zone, with man out front and zone in back, but we used more zone tonight to combat their shooting,&uot; Gray said. &uot;We changed zones and they didn’t adjust to it. We went to a 1-3-1 after halftime. We had a theory that we could deny their passing and we’d be able to run the ball down the floor.&uot;

The change to a 1-3-1 zone &045; rather than the 3-2 zone AC also used &045; on defense did provide a spark for the Lady Rebels offense, who opened the second half with a 6-0 run, including a jump shot and a runner by Katie Ann Swinny, who led the Lady Rebels with 12 points, all in the second half.

Becca Boone led Copiah with five points in the game.

AC led for most of the game and had a 15-13 halftime advantage, but it was the opening of the second half that won them the game.

&uot;To begin the second half, I can’t explain it, we just wanted to win the game,&uot; Swinny said. &uot;We were just excited and wanted to win.&uot;

As Gray had thought it might, the 1-3-1 zone allowed his team to force some turnovers that led to fast-break opportunities and easy baskets. In the Rebels’ 1-3-1, the defensive players tried to block the Lady Colonels’ passing lanes and get steals.

AC’s 6-0 run to open the half was followed shortly by a 13-2 run that carried them through the end of the game.

AC outscored Copiah 21-5 in the second half, shutting down the Lady Colonel offense. Copiah head coach Mitch Mitchell blamed the lack of scoring more on his own team’s inability to hit shots than what the Lady Rebels did on defense.

&uot;This whole season we’ve struggled to make shots. We didn’t make any tonight either,&uot; Mitchell said. &uot;At the half they went to that 1-3-1. We expected it, we practiced all week against it, but we couldn’t do anything. We don’t have much of a post presence, so we have to make jump shots and we’re really struggling shooting right now.&uot;

Copiah’s lack of a post presence made beating the zone tough. With no inside to give the ball to, the Lady Colonels were forced to stay on the perimeter and try to shoot over the zone. As evidenced by the second-half scoring, that didn’t work.

The first half of the game was a different story. The Rebels have struggled with their shooting all season, and the first half was a case in point. Copiah hit some jump shots to take a 9-3 lead early in the second quarter. In that stretch, AC players missed three lay ups and three free throws.

Mitchell said his team played much better defense in the first half, which prevented AC from getting going.

&uot;We did a good job in the first half and worked our man-to-man (defense),&uot; Mitchell said. &uot;We made tough shots for them, and they didn’t make too many.&uot;

Despite their shooting struggles, Gray said he is pleased with the way his team is running its offensive sets and getting open shots.

&uot;I love what we’re doing on offense (except for our shooting),&uot; Gray said. &uot;We are blessed to have so many girls that can play.&uot;

That depth showed against Copiah. Gray inserted Genna Yelverton into the starting lineup in an effort to get more ball handlers on the floor, he said.

Swinny said the team’s shooting woes are just a matter of confidence.

&uot;We have on and off nights shooting,&uot; Swinny said. &uot;We have to be confident. A lot of us aren’t very confident in our shots, but when we do things right, jumping and using one hand, we shoot better.&uot;