Normally when a basketball team has only three players end up in the scoring column, that usually means trouble no matter how good or how bad that team is.

However, Tuesday night’s game between Natchez High and Franklin Academy was the exception as the visiting Lady Bulldogs, led by Ke’Airra Jones and Alia Frank, upset the host Bulldogs 53-41.

“We were a little more patient in running our offense. We looked for each other a little bit more,” Natchez High head coach Sue Johnson said.

That was one of the keys to what was a much-needed win for Natchez High, which improved to 6-5. Another was the duo of Jones and Frank, who had 28 and 22 points, respectively.

“They hustle. They rebound. They look for each other,” Johnson said. “They play team ball. Ke’Airra played with a little more patience. She made some real good passes.”

But perhaps the biggest difference was a stifling defense that not only held Franklin County (8-3) to seven points in both the second and fourth quarters, but also held Shareka Hunt to just nine points.

At the end of a back-and-forth first quarter, Franklin County had a 14-12 lead. That lead didn’t last long however, as Jones and Frank were instrumental in a 15-7 advantage that helped give Natchez High a 27-21 halftime lead.

“We played better defense in the second half,” Johnson said. “We’re getting there.”