BROOKHAVEN— Although the Natchez Lady Bulldogs returned home with a district tournament championship Friday night, their mission isn’t done.

“It feels good because we are looking beyond this championship,” Natchez head coach Alphaka Moore said. “We are looking for more. It is a good feeling to be one step closer to where we were last year.”

Zyaire Ewing posted 22 points and Skylar Morgan added 13 in the MHSAA Class 5A Region 6 chamionship game against Brookhaven, and the Lady Bulldogs ran away in the contest, winning 54-35.

“We started off slow,” Moore said. “It was close for the first minute or two, but we got things together from there.”

Once Natchez did so, it was smooth sailing. The Lady Bulldogs outscored Brookhaven 48-17 through three quarters, with a big reason being the play of Ewing.

“She just took over,” Moore said. “I think she saw where she had the advantage and took to it.”

Natchez received a bye in the first round of the playoffs and won’t play again until Friday at home, which Moore said will give them an advantage.

“Last year, we were at home and that gave us an edge,” she said. “It is always good to be more comfortable.”

Cathedral 52, St. Aloysius 40

VICKSBURG — After taking a tough four-point loss to Bogue Chitto Thursday night in the MHSAA Class 1A Region 7 tournament, the Cathedral Lady Wave were forced to turn back around and take on rival St. Aloysius in a consolation game.

The Lady Wave answered the call, and were able to take down the Lady Flashes, 52-40, to take third in the tournament.

After a tight first quarter that separated the teams by just a point, Cathedral turned up the pressure on defense and outscored St. Aloysius 13-1 in the second quarter.

“Our press worked better in the second quarter and we were more patient,” Cathedral head coach Randy Smith said. “Then, in the last quarter, we got 19 points.”

With starter McKenzie Milligan getting in foul trouble early, Smith was forced to go to his bench, and Marty Lewis filled the void with 18 points.

“Marty stepped up and hit some free throws and three pointers for us,” Smith said. “It is definitely good to have her.”

Now, Cathedral will hit the road in the first round of the playoffs to take on the winner of the MHSAA Class 1A Region 6 tournament, which will be either Sebastapool or McAdams.

“They are ranked really high,” said Smith of the two teams. “If we play like we did against Bogue Chitto, we should compete with them.”

Jefferson County 57, Franklin County 53

WOODVILLE — The Jefferson County Lady Tigers were tested late in the MHSAA Class 3A Region 7 championship game against Franklin County, but were able to squeak by and take a 57-53 win to be crowned district tournament champions.

Kailyn Hammett led Jefferson County with 16 points. Antrell Gales and ReKeijah Williams added 12 apiece and Diamond Smith contributed with seven points, 10 blocks and 11 rebounds.

“I’m glad for my young ladies that they are district champs,” Jefferson County head coach Flora McKnight said. “This team here has worked hard. They worked hard all summer,”

Jefferson County sits at 19-8 heading into the playoffs, but those eight losses aren’t something McKnight shies away from.

“In those eight losses, we played 5A and 6A schools,” she said. “That is what made us better. The girls stuck together, and they wanted to be district champions.”