Natchez girls, boys rout Jefferson County on the road Friday

Published 12:01 am Sunday, December 8, 2013

FAYETTE — With sophomore point guard Ernesha Chatman and sophomore post player Skylar Morgan both out with ankle injuries suffered Monday night against Franklin Parish, Natchez High head coach Alphaka Moore was hoping someone would provide some offense against Jefferson County.

That someone turned out to be freshman shooting guard Kirdis Clark, who ended up leading all players with 20 points as the Lady Bulldogs defeated the Lady Tigers 60-42 on the road Friday night to remain undefeated. But Clark wasn’t the only freshman to give Natchez High a spark.

“I think our players did a pretty good job. We had a couple of young players step up,” Moore said. “Kirdis Clark, she stepped up offensively and defensively. Jasmine Ivory played at point guard. They both did really well.”

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Natchez High dominated on both ends of the court in the early stages of the game and led Jefferson County 19-8 at the end of the first quarter. The Lady Tigers played better in the second quarter, but were only able to shave one point off the Lady Bulldogs’ lead and trailed 31-21 at halftime.

Diamond Gaines led Jefferson County with 12 points and Dionna Jackson finished with 11 points.

Unfortunately for the Lady Tigers, they were not able to go on a big run in the third quarter and ended up being outscored by Natchez High 15-9 in that quarter, giving the Lady Bulldogs a 46-30 lead heading into the fourth quarter.

Ivory scored just two points, but she did an outstanding job of running the offense. Ivory and Clark got plenty of support from the upperclassmen.

“Our seniors, Kiana Jones and Marquita Wallace, made sure that everyone was doing what they were supposed to do and keep the tempo up,” Moore said. “All of our young players stepped up.”

Jones had 15 points, Rashonae Rice ended up with 11 points and Wallace added five points for the Lady Bulldogs

Natchez High (6-0) plays host to Wilkinson County at 6 p.m. Tuesday. Jefferson County (4-3) hosts Amite County at 6 p.m. Tuesday.

Natchez High boys 69, Jefferson County 66

FAYETTE — Jefferson County had a one-point lead heading into the fourth quarter, but the Tigers were unable to hold on to it as they lost to the Natchez High Bulldogs 69-66 Friday night.

Natchez High took a 16-12 lead over Jefferson County at the end of the first quarter, but the Tigers answered by outscoring the Bulldogs 19-13 in the second quarter for a 31-29 halftime lead.

The third quarter saw its share of ties and lead changes, but at the end of the quarter the Tigers still had the lead at 50-49. But the Bulldogs responded with its second straight 20-point quarter while holding the home team to 16 points.

Both teams had four players score in double figures. Natchez High was led by Dominique Mazique with 16 points. De’Arius Griffin finished with 15 points. Keylan Wimley added 13 points and Gary Woods chipped in with 11 points. For Jefferson County, Ry’Yale Brown finished with a game-high 20 points. Akeem Williams scored 14 points. Christian Day had 12 points, and Jadarrius Harried ended up with 10 points.

Natchez High (6-0) next plays at 7:30 p.m. Tuesday at home against Wilkinson County. Jefferson County hosts Amite County at 7:30 p.m. Tuesday.