By PATRICK JONES
The Natchez Democrat
NATCHEZ — Adams County Christian School head coach Richy Spears knew he had to make a change to create a spark. But it wasn’t a change in the line-up; was a change in defense.
ACCS rallied from a 13-point halftime deficit to stun Brookhaven Acad 48-46 Tuesday night in an MAIS District 4-AAA game.
“The second half, we went to a half-court trap and got some turnovers. The first half we were just flat,” Spears said. “We weren’t moving like we normally do.”
But Devin Spear and Brody Cole helped ignite the Rebels’ comeback in the second half. They outscored the Cougars 17-10 in the third quarter and 17-9 in the fourth quarter.
“We tried to do something different to get the momentum. We got some steals and some baskets. We fed off that,” Spears said.
ACCS was up by five, 48-43, until Brookhaven Academy hit a 3-pointer with four seconds left. The Cougars then put the Rebels at the free-throw line. They missed the front end of a 1-and-1, but got the rebound to secure the win.
Spear led all scorers with 22 points and Cole finished with 11 points.
ACCS will be the No. 4 seed in the boys’ bracket in next week’s District 4-AAA Tournament after going 4-6 during the regular season.
The 14-7 Rebels will play host to Jackson Academy Thursday at 7:30 p.m.
Vidalia 69, Jena 53
VIDALIA — Malik Jefferson connected on four 3-pointers and finished with a game-high 22 points as the Vidalia Vikings rallied from an early deficit to defeat the Jena Giants 69-53 in LHSAA District 3-3A action Tuesday night.
Demarco Brown scored 21 points and Julius Brown added 15 points for Vidalia, which trailed Jena 19-16 after one quarter of play only to turn things around in a big way over the next two quarters.
“We played pretty good defense in the second through the third quarter,” Vikings head coach Robert Sanders said. “In the fourth quarter, we kind of let a 30-point lead slip away.”
The Vikings outscored the Giants 23-10 in the second quarter to go into halftime up 39-29. The third quarter was even worse for Jena as it scored just four points while Vidalia scored 19 points for a 58-33 lead. The Giants did manage to outscore the Vikings 20-11 in the fourth quarter, but it was too little, too late.
“Overall, I was glad with our defensive effort and our offensive shot selection,” Sanders said.
Vidalia (10-11, 5-2) plays at Bolton Friday at 7:30 p.m.
Jefferson County 48, Franklin County 42
MEADVILLE — Josh Day scored 15 points and Christian Day had 12 points to lead Jefferson County as the Tigers needed a fourth-quarter rally to defeat the Franklin County Bulldogs 48-42 Tuesday night in an MHSAA Region 7-3A game.
Jefferson County led Franklin County 27-21 at halftime, but the Bulldogs responded by outscoring the Tigers 13-5 in the third quarter for a 34-32 lead. However, the Tigers had an answer of their own as they outscored the Bulldogs 16-8 in the fourth quarter.
“Very hard-fought game,” Jefferson County head coach Marcus Walton said. “(Franklin County head coach Rickey) O’Quinn does a great job, and they were well-prepared. In contributed this win to earlier close games. Those helped us prepare and become mentally tough.”
Akeem Williams poured in 11 points for the visiting Tigers. Kel Covington led the Bulldogs with 13 points while Jalen Dogan and Cameron Young had nine points apiece.
Jefferson County (11-8, 5-0) hosts Wesson Friday at 7:30 p.m. Franklin County (no records available) plays at Port Gibson Friday at 7:30 p.m.
Salem 51, Cathedral 50
TYLERTOWN — Cathedral tried to hold on to a late fourth-quarter, but a turnover followed by a questionable foul call and two free throws by Salem’s Leonardrick Riley allowed the Wildcats to escape with a 51-50 win over the Green Wave Tuesday night.
“We were trailing the entire first three quarters. Then we had the lead for almost all of the fourth quarter,” Cathedral head coach Peter Arnold said. “We held the ball (and a 50-49 lead) for most of the last two minutes left. We expected them to foul us, but they didn’t.”
Instead, the Green Wave was called for a five-second violation with just 30 seconds left. Then a foul was called on Cathedral with 21 seconds left, putting Riley at the line for his first two free throws of the entire game. He made both of them, but the Green Wave still had time for the game-winning shot.
After the ball was knocked out of bounds with five seconds left, Cathedral had one last chance, only to miss the final shot.
“It’s a heartbreaking loss. It’s a real tough way to lose,” Arnold said.
D.J. Batteste led the Green Wave in scoring with 14 points.
Cathedral (15-9) hosts MAIS District 4-AAA opponent Simpson Academy Thursday at 6:30 p.m.
Trinity Episcopal 70, Amite School Center 47
NATCHEZ — David Jackson led Trinity Episcopal with 20 points and Kevontaye Caston added 14 points as the Saints defeated the Amite School Center Rebels 70-47 in MAIS District 5-AA action Tuesday night.
Dee Fleming chipped in with 12 points for the Saints, who turned a close game into a blowout thanks in large part to a 26-5 thumping of Amite School Center in the second quarter for a commanding 40-18 halftime lead.
Trinity Episcopal (11-5, 6-1) next plays at Clinton Christian Academy Friday at 7:30 p.m.
Block 63, St. Mary’s 55
NATCHITOCHES, La. — A.J. Barber led Block with 17 points and Terris Evans had 15 points as the Bears held on for a 63-55 win over the St. Mary’s Tigers Tuesday night in an LHSAA District 3-1A game.
The first two quarters were close, but Block led 11-8 at the end of the first quarter and 30-26 at halftime. The Bears seemingly put the game out of reach by outscoring the Tigers 21-10 in the third quarter for a 51-36 lead.
However, St. Mary’s tried one last time to get back in the game in the fourth quarter, but it couldn’t make enough stops and ended up with a 19-12 advantage.
Block (8-11, 3-2) hosts LaSalle Friday at 7:30 p.m.
St. Frederick 58, Delta Charter 45
FERRIDAY — Clay Wood led St. Frederick with a game-high 27 points as the Warriors defeated the Delta Charter School Storm 58-45 in LHSAA District 2-1A action Tuesday night.
Delta Charter found itself trailing by 10 points, 16-6, at the end of the first quarter before the Storm outscored St. Frederick 17-10 in the second quarter to go into halftime down just 26-23. But a 21-13 advantage by the Warriors put a halt to the Storm’s comeback attempt.
Fabyion Kelly scored 17 points and Dawson Woodruff added 13 points for the Storm.
Delta Charter (2-7 in District 2-1A) plays at Tensas High School Friday at 7:30 p.m.