JACKSON – In the battle of No. 1 versus No. 2 in the state, the second-ranked Natchez Bulldogs defeated top-ranked Lanier 72-69 Friday night at Northwest Middle School in Jackson.

Jamal Bouldin led Natchez (19-2) with 28 points, Je’Kel Foster had 18 points and Vasshun Newborne added 12 points.

&uot;Jamal did well and Je’Kel had a good game,&uot; said Bulldogs head coach Mike Martin.

&uot;We played a lot of defense,&uot; Bouldin said. &uot;Every time they passed, we stole and made a lay-up.&uot;

The second quarter of the game proved to be the difference for the Bulldogs, who outscored Lanier 26-12 to take a 12-point halftime lead.

&uot;I believe we played good,&uot; Newborne said. &uot;Our goal was to stop their offense.&uot;

&uot;The bench stepped up because three players fouled out,&uot; he added.

Natchez missed those players, as Lanier outscored Natchez 39-30 in the second half to nearly pull out a win.

&uot;We came out and played hard for four quarters,&uot; Foster said. &uot;Everybody played well and played good defense.&uot;

Jonathan Blackman led Lanier with 23 points and Solomon Forbes added 20 points.

Bouldin said the team was happy about beating the top-ranked team in the state and &uot;we know we’re going to do it again.&uot;

&uot;It felt good,&uot; said Foster. &uot;We didn’t look at the rankings. We came out and played with the same composure that we always do.&uot;

In the varsity girls game, the Lady Bulldogs defeated Lanier 68-41, but it wasn’t that easy.

Natchez (13-6) scored 46 of its 68 points in the second half to pull away with the win.

Chyrstal Sylvester led the Lady Bulldogs with 27 points and Crystal Brown added 20 points.

Lashanda Griffin led Lanier with 20 points, but no other player on the team scored in double figures.

Natchez next plays at Ferriday for three games at 5 p.m. Tuesday.