By REED DESALVO

The Natchez Democrat

NATCHEZ — Cathedral High School and Bogue Chitto appeared headed for a close game after a tightly contested first quarter.

Then everything went wrong for the Lady Green Wave after that.

Bogue Chitto scored the first nine points of the second quarter en route to running away with a 61-35 win in girls basketball action Friday.

“(Bogue Chitto’s) strengths matchup exactly where our weaknesses are,” Cathedral coach Peter Arnold said. “That’s just the bottom line. Sometimes you match up well with teams and sometimes you don’t. Their strengths fall right into line with where our weaknesses are.”

Bogue Chitto recorded 15-2 advantage in the second period to take a commanding 30-12 lead into halftime.

Out of the halftime break, the Lady Bobcats (19-3) continued their attack as they outscored the Lady Green Wave 14-10 in the third.

“They are a very good team,” Arnold said. “All you can do is play to your strengths and do your best.”

Grayson Bryant led the Lady Green Wave (19-7) with eight points, while Marty Lewis and Elizabeth Smith each recorded seven points.

Cathedral will attempt to reverse its fortune Tuesday as the No. 3 seed in the district tournament at Adams County Christian School.

“We’re not going to change anything,” Arnold said. “We’re going to keep doing what we’ve been doing and play the best way we can play.”

Cathedral (boys) 65,

Bogue Chitto 42

Cathedral possesses an intriguing blend of skillful wing players to go along with a strong presence inside.

On Friday night, the Green Wave’s array of potential was on full display as they stormed past Bogue Chitto 65-42 on senior night in boys basketball action.

“It was good to have all the seniors finishing out on a good note,” said senior center James Allen Coley. “I’ve been here forever, and it’s going to be different.”

The Green Wave (16-10) dissected any defense thrown their way. Cathedral scored 17 points in each of the second and third quarters, before capping the scoring barrage off with a 20-point fourth quarter that was punctuated by a one-handed dunk by D.J. Batteste on the game’s final play.

“He’s been (dunking) in practice — catching alley-oops,” Coley said. “He’s just never had the chance in the game. And for him to have that and for us take the last game and head into (the postseason) on fire, that’s going to boost us up.”

 

Coley led the charge inside with 15 points to go along with nine rebounds. Not to be outdone, Batteste added seven points and nine rebounds.

 

“We want to get the ball inside first, always,” Arnold said. “We want to establish that part.”

 

When Batteste and Coley weren’t scoring down low, Cathedral worked the ball around the perimeter and into the hands of Derrion Batieste, who finished with a game-high 18 points.

 

“I told him that he can’t force it,” Arnold said. “You’ve got to wait until you’re ready for it, and catch and shoot. And he was able to hit a couple of shots.”

 

Malik Richardson led Bogue Chitto with 11 points.

 

Connor Mire recorded seven points for the Green Wave, while Will Wallace had six points and Jackson Carpenter chipped in with five.

 

“I feel good,” Arnold said. “We’re not perfect by any means, but we’re a very dangerous team. When you have some big kids, like we do, that can present problems for a lot of people.”

 

Cathedral will play at 5:15 p.m. Tuesday against Laurel Christian in the opening round of the district tournament.

 

“We grew up playing in that gym,” Coley said. “So it’s going to be like we’re right at home, and all our fans can come to the game.

 

“We’re ready to go.”