NATCHEZ — Put a 7-foot tall guy underneath the basket, and you’re bound to have a tough time putting up shots.

That’s what Trinity Episcopal figured out Monday night in its 63-61 win in overtime against Chamberlain-Hunt Academy.

The Saints had an easy go of it for the first half, leading the Cadets by 11. Trinity was all over the floor, stealing balls, blocking shots and otherwise forcing turnovers.

But the Saints let Chamberlain-Hunt back in the door in the third quarter as the Cadets came within 8 points.

Trinity couldn’t seem to make a basket after the half, while 7-foot-tall David Hahn couldn’t miss, putting up 6 points in eight minutes.

“We just went through a little spell there,” Trinity coach David King said. “I don’t know if it was intimidation by the 7-footer or not, but we had some trips down the court where we didn’t take some great shots. He does alter the game somewhat, and I think our shots weren’t falling due to knowing he was in there and knowing he was behind them.”

Hahn didn’t play in the Saints’ and Cadets’ first matchup earlier this season, so Trinity was not used to playing around him.

Trinity’s problems worsened in the fourth quarter as the Cadets went on a 15-7 run to tie the game at the buzzer.

The Saints compounded the drama by missing five free throws in the quarter. They missed 13 free throws overall — making just one more of those would have won them the game in regulation.

“They were hustling. We just didn’t take care of the ball at the end, and we didn’t make many free throw shots again,” King said. “When you miss 12 free throws, that’s tough. We’ve been shooting as many as you can; we’ve just got to keep working at it.”

But it was also free throws that won the game for Trinity. Chamberlain-Hunt missed three in a row in overtime while Andrew Johnson sunk two, and after Keeniel Weaver sunk a shot from the field, Jackson Bryant answered with a textbook layup.

Givonni Dent missed a free throw, but the Cadets were called for a lane violation, giving him two more attempts that he sunk.

Brandon Daggs’ two free shots with 24 seconds left sealed the game.

“We played hard — we didn’t play smart most of the game — but we needed that type of experience,” King said. “To have two back-to-back games like we had (against Chamberlain-Hunt and a loss to Brookhaven) is really going to give us tournament experience, which is the good thing to come out of it.”

The Saints may face the Cadets again in the South State tournament, which could be a problem for Trinity, King said.

He said the winner of Monday’s game had the best chance of winning the District 3-2A, but the hardest part is still ahead.

“Their guard play is very good, and that’s why I think they’re going to be a problem in South State — now they’ve got some guys that can get (Hahn) the basketball and can get them some points,” he said. “They’re very athletic. They don’t just have him, and that’s what scares me. They’ve got enough guard play for that big kid to really be a factor, and they’re quick too.”

Daggs and Dent led the Saints with 14 points each, and Andrew Johnson added 11.

Hahn had 25 points for Chamberlain-Hunt, and Weaver put up 14.

“Our game plan was to put a body on him, and we did, but then we got a little tired at the end,” King said. “They were able to create and get some baskets to where we had to start defending the guards. We got out of the blocks quick, and our press seemed to work pretty good, but I guess we got a little tired at the end.”