NATCHEZ — For Natchez High SChool senior Rashonae Rice, it was a night she won’t soon forget.

With less than 30 seconds left in the game, Rice grabbed a rebound and converted a lay-up to seal the win for the Lady Bulldogs.

“I was so excited,” Rice said. “I felt like when they needed me, I came through.”

After falling behind early, Natchez was forced to claw their way back into the game in the second and third quarters. They were able to do so mostly because of their lock down defense.

The Lady Bulldogs held Oak Grove to just four points in the second quarter and then just eight points in the third.

“We just had to work into our game,” Natchez head coach Alphaka Moore said. “It wasn’t that we were worried, we just had to gain focus.”

The Lady Bulldogs would put up 25 points in those two quarters and held a 38-31 lead going into the fourth quarter.

But Oak Grove continued to fight back, led by Adicia Yarbrough, who had a game-high 18 points and Lekera Hughes who added 13.

Oak Grove pulled within four points with a minute left, and then forced a Lady Bulldog turnover. The Lady Warriors converted on the other end to bring the score to 46-44, but clutch free throw shooting at the end of the game allowed Natchez to seal the win.

Rice led the Lady Bulldogs with 11 points and Zyaire Ewing added nine.

The Lady Bulldogs continue to roll heading into district tournament play, and with a challenge like Oak Grove, Natchez appears to be proving they can pass the toughest of tests.

But Moore said their opponents aren’t necessarily their biggest threat.

“I think the real test is ourselves,” Moore said. “We just have to get over the hump and back to being focused.”