NATCHEZ — The Natchez High School Bulldogs were without senior point guard Daryl Jones for Friday night’s pivotal MHSAA Division 6-5A game against one of the best teams in Class 5A in the Brookhaven High School Panthers.

And the absence of Natchez High’s floor general was obvious against Brookhaven’s press defense, especially in the first and fourth quarters, as the Panthers went on to defeat the Bulldogs 69-46.

“Their pressure took us out of rhythm,” Natchez High assistant coach David Haywood said. “We took more outside shots. We didn’t get attack the inside of their zone defense. We were more perimeter-oriented tonight.”

Haywood would not give a specific reason as to why Jones was not on the court for the Bulldogs. His only comment on the topic was, “Daryl just didn’t play tonight.”

The Panthers were led by Garrick Smith and Damarius Brooks with 11 points each and Alex Benson added 10 points.

Micheal Morris and Ty’Ran Newman scored 12 points apiece and Dominique Mazique chipped in with 10 points for the Bulldogs.

“It was a balanced attack. We played hard (Friday), but we’ve got to channel that energy,” Haywood said.

Natchez High (10-5, 3-2) next plays at Oak Grove Tuesday night.

Trinity Episcopal 82, Tallulah Academy 48

NATCHEZ — Kevontaye Caston led Trinity Episcopal with a game-high 22 points and Jakarius Caston put up 21 points as the Saints rolled to an 82-48 win over the Tallulah Academy Trojans in MAIS District 7-A action Friday night.

Trinity Episcopal got off to a slow start and trailed Tallulah Academy 13-12 at the end of the first quarter. But the Saints took the momentum away from the Trojans early in the second quarter and wound up outalftime lead.

“Everybody played their roles. For the first time all year, as the game went on we got stronger and stronger, and we wore them down,” Saints head coach Zach Rogel said.

The Saints had their way with the Trojans on both ends of the court in the second half. Led by not only the Caston brothers but also Demond Fleming and David Jackson, Trinity outscored Tallulah Academy 21-9 in the third quarter and 20-11 in the fourth quarter.

As for the performances of Kevontaye and Jakarius, Rogel said, “They did what they do best — transition baskets. Scoring off turnovers. They also hit a couple of outside shots.”

Rogel said Fleming, who finished with 21 points, is getting better and playing more of a leadership role as far as leading the offense. Jackson added 11 points for the Saints.

Trinity’s defense was also a key factor in this game. The Saints allowed just one Trojans player to reach double figures — Parks Watson, who had 11 points.

Trinity Episcopal (8-7, 5-1) plays host to Wilkinson County Christian Academy Tuesday night.

Ferriday 67, General Trass 60

LAKE PROVIDENCE, La. — After seeing a seven-point halftime lead turn into a six-point deficit at the end of the third quarter, the Ferriday High School Trojans rallied in the fourth quarter to defeat the General Trass Panthers 67-60 Friday night in an LHSAA District 2-2A game.

Ferriday put up 21 points in the second quarter and led General Trass 36-29 at halftime. But the Trojans went ice cold in the third quarter and were outscored by the Panthers 20-7 to go down 49-43.

“In the third quarter, we came out slow and they came out and jumped on us,” Trojans head coach K.G. Watkins said. “In the last three or four minutes, we surged and shut them down defensively. We cleared the boards and had some put-backs on the offensive end.”

That run by the Trojans helped them outscore the Panthers 24-11 in the fourth quarter. Dantrieze Scott led Ferriday with 21 points while Zadarius Rosenthal had 18 points and Ronald Davis added 12 points.

The win improved Ferriday to 13-10 overall and 6-1 in District 2-2A. While Watkins said he his pleased about his team being on top of the district standings, he knows there are still three district games to go.

“We are feeling really good about leading district, but we realize it is not over and we have to play one game at a time,” Watkins said. “If we take care of business, the district will take care of itself.”

Ferriday next plays at Winnfield on Tuesday night.

Pelahatchie 70, Cathedral 53

PELAHATCHIE — Dyllan Taylor led Pelahatchie High School with a game-high 24 points and Keldrick Stokes had 14 points as the Chiefs defeated the Cathedral Green Wave 70-53 Friday night to remain undefeated in MHSAA Division 7-1A.

Cathedral got off to a solid start, but trailed Pelahatchie 21-12 at the end of the first quarter and then went on a couple of spurts of miscues in the second quarter that found the Green Wave trailing by double digits by halftime.

“Started off really well. Just early in the second quarter where we got one of those spurts where it’s turnovers or missing easy shots and we go three or four minutes without scoring,” Cathedral head coach Peter Arnold said.

That allowed the Chiefs to take a 12-point advantage, but the Green Wave cut the lead down to four points with just over two minutes left in the first half. Unfortunately, more Cathedral turnovers turned into easy lay-ups for Pelahatchie and the Chiefs led 39-25 at the half.

R.J. Givens led the Green Wave with 13 points and Wyatt Boothe had 11 points.

Cathedral (5-9, 4-3) plays host to Salem Attendance Center Monday.

Wesson 83, Jefferson County 79 (OT)

WESSON — Christian Day led Jefferson County High School with 31 points, but the Tigers’ comeback attempt fell short in overtime as they lost to the Wesson High School Cobras 83-79 in an MHSAA Division 7-3A game Friday night.