NATCHEZ — It was not the best of shooting performances for the Adams County Christian School Lady Rebels, but their defense bailed them out Monday night against Centreville Academy.

Anna McDaniel and Ashleigh Williams led ACCS with nine points each and Jordan Petty had eight points as the Lady Rebels escaped at home with a 46-38 win over a Lady Tigers team that was determined to pull off a huge upset.

“They gave 100 percent. The shots were just not falling,” Lady Rebels assistant coach Dee Ray said.

Centreville hung tough with ACCS in the first quarter and was only down by two points, 13-11, at the end of the quarter. The Lady Tigers took advantage of the Lady Rebels’ cold shooting from the field and outscored the Lady Rebels 8-7 in the second quarter to go into halftime down just one point, 20-19.

Unlike many of their first seven games of the season, the Lady Rebels did not dominate their opponent in the third quarter. They only outscored Centreville 11-10 to lead 31-29 at the end of the quarter and leave the game in doubt.

But ACCS clamped down on defense in the fourth quarter and outscored the Lady Tigers 15-9 to come away with the eight-point victory.

“They did everything well but the shooting. Defensively, we out-rebounded them. We had 10 steals,” Ray said. “We just need to improve in the shooting department.”

The one player that ACCS had a hard time containing for Centreville Academy was Sydnie Lyons, who led all scorers with 20 points. But none of her teammates scored in double figures. The next high scorer for the Lady Tigers was Katelyn Chandler with six points.

Centreville Academy (no record available) next plays at 6 p.m. Thursday when it hosts Wilkinson County Christian Academy. ACCS (7-1) plays at MAIS District 4-AAA opponent and in-city rival Cathedral at 6 p.m. Thursday.

ACCS boys 48, Centreville Academy 40

NATCHEZ — The Adams County Christian School Rebels overcame a hot-shooting night by Centreville Academy’s Austen Addington and an injury to Brody Cole to defeat the Tigers 48-40 Monday night.

Andrew Ratcliff and Devin Spear led the way for ACCS with 13 points each while Sneh Patel chipped in with nine points. But Rebels head coach Richy Spears said his team needs to be more consistent if it is to be a contender in MAIS District 4-AAA.

“We jumped out to a big lead and they would cut into it. You hold them to single digits in two quarter and give up double digits in two quarters,” Spears said. “We just have to learn to play with the lead and not force things.”

ACCS led Centreville 17-8 at the end of the first quarter. The Tigers did score in double figures in the second quarter, but just barely with 10 points and still trailed at halftime 26-18. The Rebels then outscored the Tigers 13-6 in the third quarter to go ahead 39-24.

However, the Rebels were without Cole in the second half after he initially injured his shoulder in the first quarter, came back in the second quarter and injured it once again.

Spears said that Ratcliff stepped up big time in the paint and will have to do so for the Rebels.

“He’s going to have to play big in there and rebound the ball. We’ve got to get him more involved,” Spears said.

With Addington leading the charge, Centreville tried to rally in the fourth quarter but came up a little short even after outscoring ACCS 16-9. Addington led all scorers with 26 points.

Centreville Academy (no record available) plays host to Wilkinson County Christian Academy at 7:30 p.m. Thursday. ACCS (3-1) next plays at District 4-AAA opponent Cathedral Thursday at 7:30 p.m.