WOODVILLE — After three quarters of play, it looked like Hazlehurst was on its way to pulling off an upset win on the road over Wilkinson County Friday night in an MHSAA Region 7-3A game.

But the Wildcats came alive in the fourth quarter, as they outscored the Indians 27-17 to escape with a 55-53 win that kept them in a tie for first place in the region standings with Jefferson County.

Wilkinson County got off to a rough start and trailed Hazlehurst 6-5 at the end of the first quarter. Led by Dedric Reese and TroJuan White, the Indians would take a 19-16 lead into halftime and then had a 36-28 lead at the end of the third quarter. Reese led Hazlehurst with 19 points and White added 14 points.

However, the Wildcats would not let the Indians come into their court and leave with a victory. Thanks to the effort of Devin Voorhies, Phillip Fountain and Allenzae Staggers, Wilkinson County scored at will in the fourth quarter and took the lead late in the ball game.

Voorhies led the way with 19 points while Fountain finished with 13 points and Staggers contributed with 10 points.

Wilkinson County (13-9, 5-1) plays at Franklin County Tuesday night.

Jefferson County 53, Prentiss 42

PRENTISS — Jamel Anderson led Jefferson County with a game-high 16 points as the Tigers used a big third quarter to pull away from Prentiss and defeat the Bulldogs in MHSAA Region 7-3A play Friday night.

Jefferson County trailed Prentiss 24-23 at halftime before the Tigers outscored the Bulldogs 19-8 in the game-changing third quarter for a 42-32 lead.

Nicholas Brown added nine points and Jadarius Harried chipped in with eight points for the Tigers. Prentiss was led by Marcus Ball with 15 points.

The Tigers wrapped up their comeback win by outscoring the Bulldogs 11-10 in the fourth quarter.

Jefferson County (13-9, 5-1) plays at Crystal Springs Tuesday night.

Forest Hill 61, Natchez High 46

JACKSON — De’Arius Griffin led Natchez High with 15 points and Derrian Johnson had 13 points, but the Bulldogs were done in by a poor shooting performance in the third quarter as they fell to the Forest Hill Patriots Friday night in MHSAA Division 6-6A action.

After giving up 21 points in the first quarter, Natchez High held Forest Hill to nine points in the second quarter and trailed by just two points, 30-28, at halftime. Unfortunately for the Bulldogs, the wheels fell off in the third quarter as they were outscored by the Patriots 15-6 to trail 45-34.

Marvell Madiedo led Forest Hill with 15 points while William Brown added 14 points and Shannon Bailey had 12 points.

Natchez High (10-11, 1-4) plays at Brandon Friday night.

Caldwell Parish 65, Vidalia 61

COLUMBIA, La. — Tremont Wooten led Caldwell Parish with a game-high 20 points and Darius Gallow had 17 points as the Spartans held on to defeat the Vidalia Vikings in an LHSAA District 3-3A game Friday night.

The second quarter proved to be the key factor in the outcome of this game.

Vidalia had an 18-10 lead on the road over Caldwell Parish after one quarter of play before the Spartans dominated the second quarter and outscored the Vikings 23-8 for a 33-26 halftime lead.

Vidalia tried to get back in the game in the third quarter, but the rally fell a little bit short.

Isiah Thompson scored 19 points and Julius Wilson added 15 points to lead the Vikings in scoring.

Vidalia (N/A, 3-3) hosts Jena Tuesday night for Sweetheart Night.