BROOKHAVEN — The Natchez High Bulldogs are down, but not out.

After falling to Wingfield High School 59-51 Monday, the Bulldogs are facing a win or go home game in the Class 5A Region 6 tournament Friday.

“We’ve got a big do-or-die game Friday,” Natchez assistant coach David Haywood said. “There are three teams that are coming out of the district this year. So because we lost on the first night, if we win Friday, we go on the road in the first round of the playoffs. We have to come back Friday and take care of business, because we want to get a taste of playoffs.”

The Bulldogs held a lead late in the game against Wingfield, but Haywood said it was timely mistakes that cost them the game.

“We just made a couple mistakes at the wrong time,” he said. “We didn’t execute well. Every time we got momentum, we couldn’t hold onto it.”

Dominique Mazique led Natchez with a game-high 17 points and Jadarrius Ivory chipped in with 13 of his own. Senior Daryl Jones also added 12.

Natchez trailed by just two at halftime, 33-31, and then again by two heading into the final quarter of play, but Wingfield outscored the Bulldogs 17-13 in the fourth to seal the win.

Haywood said the team is going to work on playing against pressure before taking the court again Friday.

“We just have to continue to get reps and execute our plays,” he said.

“Wingfield was trying to apply pressure. When we could set up our plays, they worked, but sometimes that pressure speeded us up and we have to learn to deal with that. From this time on, it is going to be playoff basketball, and we have to be ready.”