The Adams County Christian Lady Rebels needed a big defensive performance in the second half to defeat a pesky Central Private Lady Rebels team 53-38 to win the MPSA District 4-3A Junior High Tournament Monday night at the Rebel Gym.

The Lady Rebels had little problem scoring in the first half, but Central Private’s Candace Pocorello scored 10 of her game-high 16 points in the half.

ACCS (17-3) and Central Private (10-10) were tied at 23 at halftime.

&uot;I thought we were playing real hard defense in the first half,&uot; said Lady Rebels head coach Bruce Pickle. &uot;Central Private shot the ball extremely well in the first half.&uot;

&uot;Coach told us (at halftime) to get going and play better,&uot; said April Boyd, who led the Lady Rebels with 12 points.

The Lady Rebels switched to a man-to-man defense, which shut down Central Private’s three-point shooters – Pocorello and Jenni McFearin, who had nine points.

The strategy worked as ACCS outscored Central Private 11-5 in the third quarter and 19-10 in the fourth quarter.

&uot;We work really good as a team,&uot; said ACCS’s Anna McLemore, who finished with 10 points. &uot;I usually score 10 points.&uot;

Boyd said she wasn’t worried about being the team’s leading scorer in the championship game.

&uot;I just wanted to win,&uot; said Boyd, who gave a one-word description about how it felt to win the district title: &uot;Awesome!&uot;

&uot;It feels real good,&uot; McLemore said about winning the district title.

ACCS got to the championship game by easily defeating Silliman 41-11.

McLemore had 10 points and Kim Robertson had nine points to lead the Lady Rebels.

Central Private got to the championship game by erasing a seven-point halftime lead to defeat Centreville 23-22.

McFearin and Pocorello had seven points each to lead Central Private.