Natchez High Bulldogs nip Vikings

Published 12:00 am Saturday, November 18, 2000

Natchez High’s Lady Bulldogs and Bulldogs swept the Vidalia Lady Vikings and Vikings in Vidalia’s season-opener Friday night at the Vidalia High School gym.

In the varsity girls game, Angel Taylor scored 27 points as the Lady Bulldogs defeated the Lady Vikings 86-80.

The Lady Bulldogs improved to 3-3 on the season while the Lady Vikings dropped to 0-1.

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Chrystal Sylvester scored 21 points, Gloria Lewis chipped in with 16 points and Crystal Brown added 13 points for the Lady Bulldogs.

&uot;Natchez played a good game and they were ready for us,&uot; said Lady Vikings head coach Lillian Johnson.

Vidalia’s Brendy Ellis led all scorers with 31 points and had seven rebounds, six steals and six assists and teammate Natalie McGraw had 29 points.

But no other Lady Viking player scored in double figures. The next highest scorer was Sharonda Anderson with seven points.

Despite the loss, Johnson was proud of the way her team played. &uot;I was definitely pleased with the performance of our team,&uot; she said. &uot;We came out pretty slow. The second half we really turned it up, but we got in foul trouble and all our experience was on the bench.&uot;

In the varsity boys game, five Natchez players scored in double figures as the Bulldogs (6-1) came away with a 79-66 win over the Vikings.

Burton Broudy led Natchez with 17 points, followed by Vasshun Newborn with 15 points, Derek Jarvis and Jamal Bouldin with 12 points apiece, and Irvin Baker with 11 points.

&uot;We all played hard,&uot; Newborne said. &uot;We just focused and wanted to come out with a win. The first half we were shooting outside shots. The second half we were determined to get inside the post.&uot;

Natchez trailed Vidalia (0-1) 33-31 at halftime before outscoring the Vikings 48-33 in the second half to pull away for the win.

&uot;It was a matter of playing good defense and getting inside the post,&uot; Jarvis said. &uot;Once we did that, everything started clicking.&uot;

Natchez next plays at West Feliciana for three games beginning at 5:30 p.m. on Tuesday, Nov. 28. Vidalia plays at Davidson beginning at 6 p.m. next Monday.