NATCHEZ — In the first game of the season, during Adams County Christian School’s 2015 Tip-Off Tournament, ACCS and Trinity engaged in nail-biters that provided mixed results.

For the Trinity Saints, the girls varsity basketball team pulled out a 54-43 victory against Centreville Academy before the Lady Rebels fell to Parklane Academy 55-49.

Trinity and Centreville traded leads in the second quarter, as the Lady Tigers tried to nullify Trinity’s post play in the paint with a 2-3 zone.

“They wouldn’t come out of that zone, so we had no other choice but to shoot it,” Minor said.

Trinity’s Tali Beard connected on a 3-pointer to give the Lady Saints a 23-22 advantage before Jasmine Ivory drove to the hoop for a layup and came right back down the floor to hit a 3-pointer as the buzzer sounded. The Lady Saints took a 28-22 lead into halftime following the 8-0 run.

Trinity pulled away in the third quarter, thanks to some hot 3-point shooting. Ivory connected on all three of her 3-point attempts in the quarter before Beard hit another, giving Trinity a 42-32 advantage.

“I think if they just relax and take the shots we can take, we’ll be fine,” Minor said. “We’re a good three-point shooting team. I have all five players that can shoot it. Sometimes you live by the three and die by the three.”

Ivory led the Saints with 16 points, while D’Asia Mitchell provided 15 in the win. Dionna Jackson scored 10 and Beard aided with eight, as well.

For the Lady Tigers, Synie Lyons led the team with 16 points, while Katelyn Chandler followed with 11 and Katelyn Bui scored 10.

Like Centreville, the Lady Rebels found themselves trying to battle back into a game late, facing a double-digit deficit. With a minute and a half left in the fourth quarter, ACCS trailed 52-42. The Lady Rebels then mounted a comeback, scoring seven points in 16 seconds.

Baily Boyd drilled a 3-pointer for the Lady Rebels before Ashleigh Williams stole the inbound and made two free throws, cutting the lead to 52-47. The ensuing inbound, Bailey recorded another steal for her team and found sister McKenzie Boyd who converted the layup, bringing the Lady Rebels within three with a minute and 16 seconds remaining in the game.

“My girls, they’re going to battle every time,” ACCS head coach Melanie Hall said. “Quit is not in their vocabulary. They won’t lay down. That didn’t surprise me at all.”

Parklane extended its lead over the next minute by forcing turnovers and converting free throws to earn the victory.

While ACCS was able to create scoring opportunities with its smothering defense late, Hall said the Lady Rebels gave away some points, as well.

“I thought at times (the defense) was tenacious, but at other times, we were out of position a little bit,” Hall said. “But it’s early, and we’ll correct those things. We’ll be fine.”

Bailey led the team with 18 points, while McKenzie contributed six in the loss. Williams recorded seven points, Brianna Henson added seven, herself, while Jordan Petty posted five for ACCS.