ferriday — Ferriday High School and Block High School traded blows for three quarters of Tuesday night’s boys basketball contest.

The Trojans took a two-point lead into the final quarter and used pressure defense to finally wear the Bears down and pull away 76-59.

“We were able to turn on our press and caused some turnovers and that turned the whole flow of the game and helped us get some momentum switched,” Ferriday head coach K.G. Watkins said.

Brandon Scott led Ferriday with 24 points and 11 rebounds in the contest. Shannon Morales, Will Scott and Quavion Ellis also reached double figures for Ferriday.

Another factor that led to Ferriday outscoring Block 22-5 in the fourth quarter was foul trouble for the Bears.

“We don’t have a lot of depth and had three starters foul out,” Block head coach Jeffrey Odom said. “When three starters are out, we have to ask a lot of younger kids to step up.”

Ray Plummer led block with 20 points on the night.

The score could have ended even more lopsided if Ferriday had capitalized on all of those Block fouls.

“We missed 21 free throws,” Watkins said. “It shouldn’t have even been as close as it was.”

The win pushes Ferriday to 2-3 on the season, and it will host Vidalia High School Friday. Block (2-3) will start play in the Harrisonburg tournament Friday.

Block girls 47, Ferriday 43

Quinesha Branch’s 19 points, coupled with 10-point performances by Rosie Jefferson and Vontresia Barber led the Block girls’ basketball team to victory Tuesday night.

The Lady Bears managed to hold off the Ferriday girls’ team 47-43 and improve to 2-2 on the season.

“We’re working on a totally different defense, and the kids are starting to buy into it,” Block head coach Veronica Gayle Savage said. “Ferriday played a great game, but I guess we just wanted it more and pulled it off.”

Jada Griggs led the Lady Trojans with 10 points in the game, and head coach Lisa Abron said close games like Tuesday night’s are hopefully going to make her team better down the road.

“We better be tested by now,” she said. “We’re 0-5 and still trying to just get a win, but we keep fighting.”

Ferriday will host Vidalia Friday night, while Block will travel to the Harrisonburg tournament.