Trinity’s defense of its MPSA Class A State championship lasted all of one game as the Saints were defeated by DeSoto Thunderbirds 75-67 Tuesday night in a first-round game at Delta Academy in Marks.

DeSoto not only advanced to the second round of the State tournament, but it also avenged a 17-point loss to Trinity in the first round of last year of state.

Despite 14 points and four three-pointers in the first half by John Bass, Trinity led by only one, 36-35, at halftime.

The Saints were outscored by DeSoto 14-6 in the third quarter to trail 49-42 going into the fourth quarter.

DeSoto’s Ayser Chans, who finished with 14 points, hit two big threes in the quarter.

Trailing 63-49 about midway through the fourth quarter, Trinity went on one more run and cut the lead to seven, but clutch free-throw shooting by Matt Manning, Foster Mitchell and Justin Privey did the Saints in.

John Bass finished with 21 points, Kris Thomson had 16 points, Bobby Craig had 12 points and Chad Ridley had 10 as the Saints finished its season with a 24-7 record.

Derrick Deaton led DeSoto with 17 points and Mitchell had 14. Manning and Privey each had 11.

In the girls contest, Jaime Kittrell scored 21 points as the Wayne Academy Lady Jaguars defeated the Lady Saints 52-50.

The Lady Jaguars (21-6) jumped out to an early 14-4 lead and it seemed like a blowout was not far away.

But the Lady Saints went on a 11-4 run, to close out the quarter trailing by only three, 18-15.

Lauren Tanner, who led the Lady Saints with 14 points, had six of her points in the first quarter.

The Lady Jaguars took a slim 28-24 halftime lead as Kittrell had 12 points and nine of her 11 rebounds in the first half.

The Lady Saints went on a 10-0 run in the third quarter to take a 38-34 lead. Ashley Kingsafer, who had 11 points, hit two threes during the run.

But the Lady Jaguars retook the lead early in the fourth quarter as Kingsafer went cold from the field, missing four threes in the quarter.

The Lady Saints had one last chance to win the game, but a despiration shot by Sara Greer was off the mark.

The Lady Saints finished their season with a 22-10 record.