By Reina Kempt

The Natchez Democrat

SICILY ISLAND — It seemed like the Ferriday High School Trojans weren’t their usual “high-intensity” self when they came out slow in the first quarter against Tensas High School in the Sicily Island High School 2013 Basketball Tournament Saturday.

The Trojans were only able to put up seven points in the first quarter as they missed nine free throws among their several problems. They allowed Tensas to score 21 points in the first quarter to dig themselves in a 16-point hole early in the game.

But Ferriday found a way to pick it up from there and outscored Tensas for the remainder of the game.

Adrian Wiggins and Shannon Morales came up big for the Trojans with 16 points each. Steve Wilson also added 13 points. Javonte Gill scored 18 points for Tensas, but his efforts weren’t enough to keep the Trojans from storming back.

Ferriday head coach K.J. Watkins said though they came out with a bad start, he was proud of his players’ perseverance to pull out the win.

“It was a good learning experience,” he said. “We have young players and to overcome that adversity in the first quarter was a big step and I was happy with that.”

The Trojans play again on Jan. 7 at New Living Word.

Brandon 74, Natchez 34

HATTIESBURG — Natchez High School boys didn’t seem to have any gas left losing to Brandon High School 74-34 in their last game of the Hattiesburg High School Coca-Cola Tournament.

Only one Bulldog scored in double figures as Gary Woods tallied 11 points. Brandon saw four players put up big numbers as Rashard Collier led the pack with 20 points.

The first quarter showed promise as the Bulldogs were behind just 17-13 with plenty of time to take the lead. But the second quarter devastated them as they were outscored 29-10 to go into halftime down 46-23, and they never recovered from it.

Natchez will play again on Jan. 7 at McComb High School.

Vidalia 61, Franklin Parish 67

SICILY ISLAND — By the time Vidalia High School started to get their engines running, it was too late to recover from a 13-point deficit.

The Vikings fell to Franklin Parish High School 67-61 in the Sicily Island High School 2013 Basketball Tournament Saturday despite Isiah Thompson’s 26 points. Julius Wilson added 14 points for the Vikings. J.T. Allen put up 18 points for Franklin Parish, and Reginald Carter tallied 16 points in the game.

The Vikings stayed with Franklin Parish in the first quarter, down just 13-12, but they saw the lead slip away as they were outscored 14-11 in the second quarter and 25-16 in the third quarter.

The Vikings finally got things to go their way in the fourth quarter as they put up 22 points, but it wasn’t enough to take the win.

The Vikings will play again on Jan. 3 against Sicily Island.

Trinity 76, Brookhaven 59

The Trinity Episcopal Saints held their breath in the first half as they let Brookhaven Academy stick around, leading by just one point 36-35 at halftime in the Brookhaven Academy 2013 Holiday Invitational Saturday.

But the Saints were able to kick it into another gear in the second half to pull away and win 76-59. Tommy McCoy led the Saints with 21 points, and Arzell McCoy followed with 17 points. Two other Saints scored in double figures, Trey Hall with 15 points and Wyatt Boothe with 12 points. Brookhaven’s Zac Smith had a game-high 22 points and Teyton Hood added 15 points.

The Saints outscored Brookhaven 40-24 in the second half to stay undefeated at 10-0. Trinity plays again at 8:15 p.m. today against Marshall Academy.