NATCHEZ — The Natchez High School boys’ basketball team used a strong first-quarter performance to jump out to a lead that turned out to be insurmountable for cross-river rival Vidalia High School Monday night in Natchez.

The Bulldogs used a full-court press defense to force Vidalia into several turnovers early in the contest and by the end of the first period Natchez led 23-4.

Natchez continued its onslaught in the second quarter and led 40-16 at the break. The Bulldogs then went into cruise control in the second half to secure a 69-45 victory over Vidalia.

“We beat some pretty good guys from Vidalia,” Natchez assistant coach David Haywood said. “We have a big rivalry with them, and it will always be competitive. They got down early but didn’t give up. It shows they are doing the right things across the river.”

Natchez’s Derrian Johnson led all scorers in the contest with 17 points. He also snagged seven rebounds. DeArrius Griffin fell one point shy of Johnson with 16 points but out-rebounded his teammate by one, finishing with eight.

Jarmal McDuffie added eight points for Natchez, while JaDarrius Williams and Quincey Washington each scored six.

Two players, Trey Virgis and Trashone Mayes, scored nine points for the Vikings to lead the team. Michael Whitley added eight points for Vidalia.

Vidalia played better in the second half than it did in the first. The Vikings and the Bulldogs actually tied the second half by both scoring 29 points. But Natchez High’s pressure and Vidalia’s inability to handle it were the differences in the game.

“We did have a little trouble with it,” Vidalia coach Robert Sanders said. “It wasn’t something we weren’t expecting. We practiced with it, we just didn’t execute tonight.”

Sanders said Vidalia also missed opportunities to score when it did beat the pressure.

“The biggest thing tonight, besides the turnovers, was we missed free throws and open shots,” he said.

Haywood said Natchez has been forced to pressure out of necessity, because the team lacks height this season.

“We’re kind of small,” he said. “Our experience is smaller guys, so we have to change the tempo.”

Haywood said the Bulldogs also need to work on handling pressure defense, which Vidalia showed at times Monday night.

“(We have to work on) ball handling and handling pressure,” he said. “We didn’t handle the press good.”

The win moves Natchez to 7-6 on the season, and the Bulldogs will travel to Lafayette, La., to play in the Sunkist Shootout Dec. 27.

Vidalia fell to 6-5 with the loss and will participate in the Madison Parish Tournament starting Wednesday.

Natchez girls 71, Vidalia 12

The Natchez High School girls’ basketball team had its way with the Vidalia High School girls’ team Monday night.

The Lady Bulldogs cruised to a 71-12 victory.

Rashonae Rice led all scorers with 16 points. Keyana Miller added 11 for the Lady Bulldogs, and LaKenya Franklin netted 10.

Day’Keria Johnson and Ashley Minor each scored nine points of their own for Natchez High.

The Lady Bulldogs led 24-6 at halftime and really poured it on in the second half by scoring 21 points in the third quarter and 26 in the fourth.

Fran Duson led Vidalia with four points.

The win improves Natchez to 10-4 on the season, and the Lady Bulldogs will not play again until Dec. 27 in the Mendenhall Holiday Classic against Port Gibson.