RAYVILLE, La. — Trinity Episcopal made it a daily double at the MAIS Class A South State Tournament at Riverfield Academy with the third-ranked Saints’ 61-57 win over second-ranked Claiborne Academy Saturday night in the boys’ championship game.

Not many people expected Trinity Episcopal to have a chance to even stay close with a Claiborne Academy team that entered this game with a 26-1 record and their only loss at the time being to Class AAA Jackson Academy back in early January.

Not only did the District 6-A champion Saints stay close, they actually rallied from a 14-8 deficit at the end of the first quarter. And it didn’t take too long for that to happen as they responded quite well by outscoring the District 7-A champion Rebels 20-11 in the second quarter for a 28-25 lead at the half.

Trinity put a little more distance between itself and Claiborne Academy with a 15-12 advantage in the third quarter for a 43-37 lead. The Rebels put up 20 points in the fourth quarter, but they were unable to make enough stops when the Saints had the ball as they scored 18 points to hold on for the win.

Tip McKenzie led Trinity (26-5) with 20 points while Tanner Cage scored 14 points, L.J. Trimble added 12 points and Givonni Dent had eight points. Claiborne Academy (26-2) was led by Oliver Willis with a game-high 23 points and Jadarius Willis with 13 points

Three players on the Saints’ team — McKenzie, Cage and Dent were named to the all-tournament team.

This was Trinity’s fifth South State championship since the 1998-1999 season, but the first one in Class A since going back-to-back in the 2001-2002 and 2002-2003 seasons. It was the Saints’ first South State title since the 2007-2008 season — when they were in Class AA.

Next up for Trinity is the MAIS Class A State Tournament at Benton Academy in Benton. The Saints will be the South No. 1 seed.

Lake Providence 49, Ferriday 40

LAKE PROVIDENCE, La. — Jarqual Robertson had a game-high 24 points and Therion Thomas chipped in with 10 points as the Lake Providence Panthers rallied in the second half to defeat the Ferriday Trojans Saturday afternoon to wrap up District 2-2A play.

Lake Providence took a 12-9 lead over Ferriday after one quarter of play, but the Trojans showed some resolve in the second quarter as they outscored the Panthers 16-9 for a 25-21 halftime lead.

Unfortunately for the Trojans, they could not take the momentum they built in the second quarter into the second half. And the Panthers’ defense had a lot to do with that – especially in the third quarter.

Ferriday managed to score just four points while Lake Providence put up 14 points to take a 35-29 lead. With the win, the Panthers staved off going winless in District 2-2A and they finished tied for last place with the Trojans at 1-7.

Quavion Ellis led Ferriday (3-19) with 10 points and Freddy Gray had nine points.