NATCHEZ — After an emotional win over rival Jefferson County Tuesday night, the Natchez High Bulldogs came out quite flat against the undermanned Sicily Island Tigers Thursday evening.

However, they righted the ship at halftime and used a big third quarter run to turn a two-point deficit into a 62-47 victory.

“Our guys came out and expected an easy game tonight,” Bulldog assistant coach David Haywood said. “Give Sicily Island credit, they were not going to lay down. We were flat.”

The Bulldogs committed numerous turnovers, missed easy inside shots and had defensive lapses in the first 16 minutes of the game and went into the locker room trailing 24-22.

However, the Bulldogs (14-11) were determined to get the ball inside in the second half, and they did with the help of Kendall Logan.

Logan scored eight consecutive points in the early stages of the third quarter to spark a 21-1 run that turned a two-point deficit into an 18-point lead at 45-27.

Logan and Dwong Hughes led the team with 16 points each.

“We wanted to come out with more energy in the second half,” Logan said. “I came out more focused and started taking better shots in the third quarter.”

Haywood said Logan’s third quarter performance was key to the Bulldogs pulling away for the win.

“We had him outside on the perimeter in the first half and we got no production from him,” Haywood said. “And when we get no production from Kendall, there’s no production from Natchez High. Him coming out in the second half and scoring those buckets in a row gave the team confidence and energy to get over the hill.”

Sicily Island was led by Deon Dunbar and Karlos Gary, who both scored 17 points.

Natchez girls 48, Sicily Island 31

At Sicily Island’s request, the regular varsity girls game was canceled.

However, the Lady Tigers still brought their varsity girls team. They just played the Natchez junior varsity.

The Lady Bulldogs didn’t score a single point in the fourth quarter and still won by 17.

Natchez scored 14 points in each of the first two quarters and 20 in the third quarter to take a 48-24 lead into the fourth.

They spent most of the fourth quarter holding the ball and running the clock, allowing the final score to be much closer than the game was played.

Anastasia Hutchins led the Lady Bulldogs with 13 points while Jameka Watkins scored 11 and Jasmine Payne had eight.

Angelica Brawson led Sicily Island with 23 points.