Natchez High’s boys moved a step closer to the &uot;Big House&uot;&160;as the Bulldogs defeated Gulfport 80-72 in a South State 5A first round contest. The Bulldogs advance to the South State 5A Tournament in Gulfport at Harrison Central High Friday.

Natchez meets Biloxi Friday at 6:30 p.m. in a first round game.

Harrison Central meets Meridian in the night cap.

The winner’s meet for the championship, while the two losers meet in the consolation with only the winner advancing to the state tournament.

Harrison Central defeated Jim Hill 68-52 Tuesday, while Biloxi upended Wayne County 103-89.

Meridian eliminated Pascagoula 72-61.

Natchez got out of the gates quick as David Haywood scored two field goals and a 3-point basket to help the Bulldogs to a 13-4 lead.

But Haywood would pick up his second foul with 3:18 remaining in the first quarter.

&uot;I was hoping the team would help me out,&uot;&160;said Haywood, who sat out the entire second quarter. &uot;I knew if they maintained the lead, we would be all right.&uot;

A basket by Vasshun Newborne and free throw by Demetries Minor gave Natchez a 20-12 first quarter advantage.

The Bulldogs led 26-18 early in the second period when Gulfport scored eight straight points to tie the game at 26-26 with 4:30 remaining in the first half.

Four free throws by Edwin Harris keyed a 7-2 Natchez run.

&uot;When David went out we all knew we had to step it up,&uot; Harris said.

A basket by Reuben Thomas pulled Gulfport to within 33-30.

Harris then hit two free throws and Jamal Bouldin added a basket and a 3-pointer with 14 seconds remaining to give Natchez a 40-31 halftime lead.

A 3-point play by Haywood put Natchez ahead 47-35 early in the third period, but Gulfport hit the boards hard and fought back to within 50-49 on baskets by Dennis Chapman and Thomas with 1:04 to play in the third period.

Jovon Edwards and Haywood hit baskets to put the Bulldogs up by five, but two free throws by Freeman Taylor pulled Gulfport to within 54-51 at the end of the quarter.

Two straight baskets by Taylor gave Gulfport its first lead at 55-54 early in the fourth quarter.

Carl Minor put Natchez back up with a baske and two straight baskets by Haywood and another Minor bucket pushed Natchez up 62-55 with 4:37 to play.

&uot;I had the jitters a bit at the start but as the game went along they went away,&uot; Minor said.

The Admirals came back within three, but Haywood hit two free throws and another two foul shots by Newborne pulled the Bulldogs up 67-61.

&uot;A team like that, you don’t want them to get close,&uot; Minor said. &uot;Coach (Mike Martin) just told us to execute and move the ball.&uot;

A free throw by both teams had Natchez up 68-62 with 24 seconds remaining.

&uot;We moved our press up more in the second half,&uot; said Natchez’s Jovon Edwards.

&uot;They started trying to pass over us and I could see them starting to panic.&uot;

Haywood then intercepted a Gulfport pass and Bouldin hit two free throws with 12 seconds left to seal the win.

&uot;I could tell they were nervous when they lined up for free throws,&uot; Haywood said. &uot;We just had to keep playing defense.&uot;

Natchez 24-8, was led by Haywood with 24. Bouldin added 25, while Minor netted 12.

Taylor, the brother of former all-state player Syniker Taylor, led the Admirals with 14, while Cameron Dunn with 12.

Martin credited Natchez fans with sparking the Bulldogs.

&uot;I just want to thank the community for coming out and supporting us the way they did,&uot; he said.

Gulfport finishes its season at 18-14.

&uot;We didn’t do what we needed to do to win,&uot; said Gulfport coach Bryan Caldwell. &uot;When you are on the road, you have to play well to win. The first half we didn’t play worth a lick.&160;The second half we competed a little better. We made a couple of pretty solid runs, but Natchez stood up to every one of them. In the last two minutes, they made the plays and we didn’t.&uot;