MAGNOLIA — Ernesha Chatman led Natchez High with a game-high 19 points and Kirdis Clark added 14 points as the defending Class 5A state champion Lady Bulldogs defeated the South Pike Lady Eagles 63-37 Friday night.

South Pike did not seem intimidated about taking on the defending champions — at least not in the first half. Despite scoring just eight points in the first quarter, the Lady Eagles were only down by four points at the end of the quarter.

The second quarter was a back-and-forth battle between the two teams and South Pike actually outscored Natchez High 15-14 to trail by just three points, 26-23, at halftime.

However, any thoughts of South Pike pulling off one of the biggest upsets in the history of its girls’ basketball program ended in the third quarter. Natchez High turned up the defensive pressure and that allowed the Lady Bulldogs to get easy baskets.

The Lady Bulldogs put up 18 points in the third quarter while the Lady Eagles were held to a mere four points, putting the visiting team ahead 44-27. Natchez High then outscored South Pike 19-10 in the fourth quarter.

Skylar Morgan had 10 points and Rashonae Rice scored nine points for the Lady Bulldogs (2-0), which will next play in the JPS Thanksgiving Classic against Murrah High School today at 5:30 p.m. with the game taking place at Forest Hill.

Natchez High boys 75, South Pike 63

MAGNOLIA — Daryl Jones had a game-high 26 points and Michael Morris had 17 points as the Natchez High Bulldogs defeated the South Pike Eagles 75-63 Friday night.

Dominique Mazique added 12 points and Ty’Ran Newman chipped in with 11 points for Natchez High, which was only up on South Pike 17-15 after one quarter of play and 36-32 at halftime before putting the game away with a 22-14 advantage in the third quarter.

Jaquerias Lewis led the Eagles with 16 points, Chris Lewis finished with 13 points and Tardorius Williams had 12 points.

The 2-0 Bulldogs next play Tuesday, Dec. 2, when they play host to Ferriday High School.

Delta Charter 80, Delhi charter 79

ferriday — Up by 12 points in the third quarter and having controlled most of the game, the Delta Charter Storm felt they were in control.

But a late surge by Delhi Charter caused the two teams to embark on an overtime frenzy.

“We were up by three with five seconds left in regulation and they inbounded the ball to their star player,” Delta Charter head coach Dewayne Taylor said. “He ended up hitting a three and sent the game to the first overtime.”

After trading baskets through the first overtime period, the Storm missed a last second shot for the win, and the two teams went to a second overtime period.

“In the second overtime, it came down to free throws and us finishing the game, which we did,” Taylor said.

The Storm were able to edge Delhi Charter 80-79.

The win pushes Delta Charter, a team that consists of junior varsity players, to 4-0 on the year against varsity teams, and Taylor said he is impressed with what he has seen from his team thus far.

“As far as the work ethic, I knew we could be this good,” Taylor said. “These guys have transferred everything we’ve done in practice onto the court.”