NATCHEZ — If effort could have won a basketball game, the Adams County Christian Lady Rebels would have pulled off a big victory Friday night.

Unfortunately, the Prairie View Lady Spartans, one of the top teams in MPSA Class AA, were just too talented.

ACCS hung with the Lady Spartans for a half, trailing only 28-18 at the break, but Prairie View pulled away in the second half to take a 61-33 victory.

“The kids battled and fought hard today,” ACCS coach Melanie Hall said. “That’s all I can ask of them. They left it all on the floor and got after it.”

The difference in the game was the third quarter, in which Prairie View outscored the Lady Rebels 18-5.

The only highlight of the quarter for ACCS was a running 3-pointer at the buzzer by Megan Cole, her only basket of the game.

The Lady Rebels were led by Sara Beth Fuller with 10 points, while Sabrenah Belgard scored eight.

Prairie View had a very balanced attack, led by Lena Kate Thompson with 15 points, Caroline Oliphant with 14 points and Logan Tubbs with 13.

Despite the loss, ACCS still clinched a spot in the South State Tournament.

The Lady Rebels will be a No. 3 seed regardless of the result of their final District 3-AAgame against River Oaks.

Prairie View boys 73, ACCS 62

The Rebels couldn’t win two games in a row against Prairie View, as the Spartans got some revenge from an overtime loss earlier this season.

The Spartans led by just five points at the end of the third quarter, but outscored the Rebels 24-18 in the final period to pull away for their first district victory.

Joe Barksdale led ACCS with 16 points, while Lee Swinney scored 13 and Bryce Murray chipped in 10.

Prairie View was led by Chase Anderson with 26 points and Bonner Bordelon with 19, while Robby Jones scored 13 in the victory.