FLOWOOD — For the second game in a row, the Tensas Academy Lady Chiefs played great defense, but couldn’t get enough shots to go down.

Tensas fell to Marvell Academy 43-35 in the consolation game of the MPSA Class A State Tournament.

“We had another really good defensive effort,” Tensas coach Chuck Bauerle said. “We just had a few shots here and there that wouldn’t fall and that was the difference.”

The Lady Chiefs led 9-8 at the end of the first quarter, but were outscored 13-7 in the second period and went into halftime down by seven points.

Tensas hung close with Marvell for the entire second half, but could never get over the hump.

“It was a four or five point difference most of the game,” Bauerle said. “We just couldn’t quite make a bucket to get a run started.”

It didn’t help that Marvell was almost automatic from the free throw line.

The Lady Eagles made 22-of-26 free throw attempts while Tensas was only 9-of-18 from the stripe.

“Basically anytime towards the end of the game when we needed to foul they hit their free throws,” Bauerle said.

Mary Elizabeth Crigler led Tensas with 12 points, while Allie Kate Gossett scored seven and Mary Miller Ratcliff chipped in with six.

Marvell was led by Cathy Patton and Hannah Padgett, who both scored 11 points.

“I’m proud of the girls,” Bauerle said of the Lady Chiefs. “They played hard, we just lacked a little bit on the offensive end.”

Even with the loss, the Lady Chiefs advance to next week’s MPSA Overall Tournament at Mississippi College in Clinton.

They will find out their first-round opponent in a few days.