JThe Class A Trinity Episcopal Saints knew they would have their hands full with the Class AAA Jackson Academy Raiders Saturday night.

After all, Jackson Academy is the defending MPSA Overall boys’ champion even though it did not win the Class AAA state title last season. However, the 2006-2007 Raiders, despite having nine seniors and four juniors, have been up and down this season and went into this game with a 16-11 record.

Jackson Academy played like a champion in the first half but nearly let a 16-point halftime lead slip away in the second half before pulling away in the final minutes of the fourth quarter for a 57-48 win over Trinity.

The Saints were not intimidated by the defending Overall champs and stayed with the Raiders for much of the first quarter. As the buzzer sounded at the end of the quarter, Trinity was only down by six points, 21-15.

However, Jackson Academy (17-11) took control in the second quarter. Led by John Josey, Nicoe Norris and Emaad Khansur, the Raiders outscored Trinity 17-7 and had a 38-22 lead at halftime.

But Trinity (11-10) wouldn’t go away without a battle. With Matthew Freeman and Jon Davis King leading the way, the Saints outscored the Raiders 13-9 in the third quarter.

Freeman led all scorers with 17 points and King finished with 12 points. Meanwhile, the Raiders’ defense keyed in on Stevan Ridley, who was held to seven points.

Even though JA still had a 12-point lead as the fourth quarter began, perhaps they felt like the outcome was still in doubt. And it was as Trinity cut the lead to three points with about three minutes to play, but the Raiders scored the final six points of the game to escape with the win.

Josey and Norris led JA with 14 points each and Khansur chipped in with 12 points.

Jackson Academy girls 55, Trinity Episcopal 31

JACKSON — The Lady Raiders had won two straight games and six of their last seven going into this game, but they did not play like the No. 5 team in Class AAA early on.

The Lady Saints played some good defense and had a 10-8 lead at the end of the first quarter. But once the second quarter got under way the Lady Raiders, led by Jalessa Taylor and Catherine Murphree, controlled the action on both ends of the court.

Jackson Academy (16-12) outscored Trinity 17-2 in the second quarter and went into halftime with a 25-12 lead. The Lady Raiders then had a 19-12 advantage in the third quarter to take a 44-24 lead over the Lady Saints.

Taylor led the Lady Raiders with a game-high 20 points and Murphree had 10 points. Brandy Hall led Trinity (11-14) with 12 points and Eliza Jones scored nine points.

ACCS junior high girls win district championship

VICKSBURG — The ACCS junior high Lady Rebels won two games Saturday in the MPSA District 4-AA Junior High Tournament held at Porters Chapel.

In the first game, ACCS defeated Franklin Academy 31-6. Lindsey Barber led the way with 11 points and Marlee Wadsworth had six points.

Then in a low-scoring championship game, the Lady Rebels held Prairie View scoreless in the fourth quarter en route to a 17-12 win. Once again, Barber was the leading scorer as she scored seven points.

ACCS finished the season undefeated in district play at 10-0 and with a 23-9 overall record.