VICKSBURG – Jamal Bouldin, Je’Kel Foster and Vasshun Newborne combined for 61 points as Natchez High routed McComb 81-52 Monday night in the first round of the Warren Central-Vicksburg Coca-Cola Classic at Warren Central High School in Vicksburg.

Bouldin, a senior guard, led all scorers with 27 points.

&uot;We knew what we had to do,&uot; Bouldin said. &uot;We had to focus on the game and play together.&uot;

And play together the Bulldogs in their season opener as they scored no fewer than 18 points in any of the four quarters.

Natchez won the game easily despite committing an unprecedented 25 fouls.

&uot;We’ve got to work on our defense and work on our fouls. We had too many,&uot; Bouldin said.

Foster and Newborne chipped in with 18 and 16 points, respectively.

&uot;I just worked hard and tried to stay in front,&uot; Newborne said. &uot;At first I was intimidated. I felt a little chill. But I just worked.&uot;

McComb’s big man in the middle, J. Butler, was held to only six points in the game.

&uot;That was a concern on how we’d do well against someone who’s 6-9, but Vasshon held him to six points…I was really pleased with that,&uot; said Natchez High head coach Mike Martin.

&uot;I thought the kids played well,&uot; Martin continued. &uot;You always worry about your conditioning, but we worked hard. There’s always something to work on but the kids played well.&uot;

Natchez (1-0) will play against the winner of the Madison Central-Warren Central game tonight at 7:30 at Madison Central in Madison.