NATCHEZ — It was only one game, but what a difference a year makes for the Adams County Christian Lady Rebels.

One year after the Lady Rebels struggled through a season where their coach resigned midseason and they only won a handful of games, ACCS showed they could be a team to be reckoned with this year as they routed Huntington 42-25 in the ACCS Girls Tip-Off Tournament.

It was also the first game for Melanie Hall as the Lady Rebels coach. The former Trinity Episcopal coach headed across town in the off-season, and the results appear to be immediate.

“I just feel very blessed,” Hall said after the game. “I’m thankful for this opportunity. It’s good to get the first one out of the way.”

The Lady Rebels were in a fight with the Lady Hounds for one quarter, and found themselves down 10-8 late in the first quarter.

However, ACCS went on a 22-0 run that spanned the last minute of the first quarter, the entire second quarter and the first four minutes of the third quarter.

The Lady Rebel defense clamped down on Huntington, rarely allowing an open look and grabbing every rebound that came their way.

“I feel like the defensive intensity picked up,” Hall said. “Defense and rebounding was the key. They did a good job on the boards.”

Huntington coach Nicky Peré said the size of ACCS’ inside players was the difference in the game.

“They’ve got some big girls in there,” Peré said. “They hustle and get after it inside. We have to do a better job of blocking out and rebounding better.”

Another one of the keys for the Lady Rebels’ dominant performance was the play of Sara Beth Fuller.

Fuller led ACCS with her shooting and passing, as she not only led all scorers with 14 points, but dished off to open teammates inside for easy layups that keyed the rout in the second and third quarters.

“I have a lot of confidence in my teammates,” Fuller said. “When I get the ball to them, they know what to do with it.”

Fuller said that confidence has enveloped the entire team and made the difference in this season’s improvement.

“We’ve got more confidence in ourselves this year,” Fuller said. “We’re excited to play. Everyday you get to play basketball is a good day.”

In addition to Fuller’s 14 points, ACCS was led by Sabrenah Belgard, who scored nine.

Abi Brown led Huntington with 13 points.