NATCHEZ — With Trinity Episcopal tottering on the edge of collapse, Madelyn Cross made a play to bail them out.

The sophomore post player hit a basket as time expired to lift the Lady Saints to a 31-29 victory over Brookhaven Academy in the Adams County Christian Girls Tip-Off Tournament.

“That was just Cross making a play,” Trinity coach Richy Spears said. “She just did what she needed to do.”

Cross wasn’t even supposed to get the ball on the final play. With Trinity inbounding the ball at midcourt with 6.4 seconds left, Spears called a timeout to design a play that was supposed to set up Caroline Ketchings, who led all scorers with 16 points, for a jump shot.

However, Brookhaven double-teamed point guard M.C. Iles as soon as she caught the ball and she passed off to an open Cross on the wing.

Cross dribbled, took two steps to the basket and banked a shot in off the glass as time ran out.

“I just had to attack the basket and score,” Cross said of her game-winner. “I’ve never hit a buzzer-beater before. It feels pretty good.”

The game was close and low-scoring all the way through. Trinity led the whole game, but never enjoyed a lead of over six points.

Trinity led 25-19 after three quarters, but Brookhaven stormed back behind the play of center Anna K. Mangold.

Mangold scored eight of her 14 points in the fourth quarter to lead the Lady Cougars back.

Brookhaven tied the game at 27 when Marion Allen hit a 3-pointer with 3:05 left but Trinity jumped back out by two points when Ketchings made her first basket of the second half with 2:20 remaining.

However, Brookhaven tied the score once again on a Mangold basket with two minutes left.

Both teams had chances to score in the final two minutes, but neither could get it through the hoop until Cross did it with no time left.

It was a sweet win for Trinity, and Spears says it will give the team confidence as they continue their season.

“Confidence is the biggest thing,” Spears said. “We’ve been close in several games and to finally win one is great.”