JACKSON — The Natchez High School Lady Bulldogs rallied Friday night against South Jones High School 54-51 to win the MHSAA 5A state championship.

As the Lady Bulldogs were handed the golden basketball trophy at center court, hundreds of fans in blue and gold cheered for their team.

Head coach Alphaka Moore said she didn’t believe they were state champions until she saw the trophy.

“Everyone talks about wining the championship, but until you actually do it, it’s kind of just a dream,” Moore said. “Once they handed us the golden ball, it was like wow, this is really happening, we are really here. You don’t think it’s really happening until it’s in your hand.”

Zyaire Ewing led the Lady Bulldogs with her most prolific performance of the season, 26 points and 16 rebounds as she was awarded Player of the Game.

Moore said Ewing stepped up for her team in crucial moments as the Lady Bulldogs trailed for a majority of the game until it took the game-deciding lead 53-51 with 10.5 seconds left.

Moore said she was happy to bring the title back to Natchez.

Natchez High Principal Fred Butcher said he prayed throughout the tight game, as neither team trailed by more than single digits.

Butcher said he was happy to see the benefits of hiring Moore. The season marked Moore’s second for the Lady Bulldogs.

“I remember our first interview (in the hiring process,) and ≈we told (Moore) we have good talent,” Butcher said.

“She said if you have any kind of talent and they want to work hard and want to be self disciplined, I can get you a state championship, and she was true to her word.”

Though Moore is fairly new to Natchez, she said she feels a bond and a sense of pride that led her and her players to the state title in such a short amount of time.

“I’m not from Natchez, but I bleed blue and gold,” she said.

Moore said she is already thinking about how the Lady Bulldogs will get back to the big house next season.

Natchez High finished the season 28-2.