NATCHEZ — From the way the first quarter played out, Natchez High didn’t look like it would get anything close to a blowout against Ocean Springs Friday night.

But after taking the lead a little less than halfway through the second quarter, the Bulldogs took off for a 64-45 win in the Miss-Lou Classic.

Natchez’a defense was strong all night, forcing 13 turnovers in the first half and another 10 in the second 16 minutes.

But the offense started out sluggish, not scoring until more than two minutes into the game after the Greyhounds scored on the first possession.

Ocean Springs led 12-9 at the end of the first quarter, but with 5:22 to go in the half, something in the Bulldogs sparked. They stole the ball and James Reed drove to the basket for 2 points and a free throw, then scored a 3-pointer off Jeremy McMorris to take the lead.

He scored again on the next possession, making the bucket from the baseline and taking a foul for the 3-point play.

“We had to move the ball around a lot,” said Javon Washington. “If we didn’t keep moving, the play was going to be dead.”

At the half, the Bulldogs led by five, 22-17, and after shooting from the perimeter for most of the first half, Natchez drove to the basket early in the third quarter. They scored on five of their first seven possessions in that quarter.

“We talked about penetration and getting them in foul trouble,” McMorris said of the halftime talk. “We had to get some offensive rebounds and execute.”

The Greyhounds still kept it close through the third quarter and were down by only seven points, but Natchez was ready to put the game away in the fourth.

Ocean Springs missed three of its next four shots, and the Bulldogs went 5-for-5 shooting to open the fourth, including a steal for a buck and free-throw by Washington.

The Bulldogs took their biggest lead of the game halfway into the fourth quarter, 49-33.

“We came out and played hard,” Washington said. “Coach (Haywood Thomas) said if we don’t play hard, we won’t win.”

Washington scored 13 points for Natchez, while McMorris led the Bulldogs with 17.

James Reed added 12.

Tré Brown led Ocean Springs with 13 points, followed by Alan Houze with 11. Craig McMillian scored 10.

The Bulldogs are now 706 on the season.