HATTIESBURG – Having to play at eight o’clock on a Saturday morning did not affect the play of the Natchez High Lady Bulldogs as they cruised to a 74-45 win over Kossuth High in the Hattiesburg Holiday Tournament.

Crystal L. Brown led the Lady Bulldogs with a game-high 22 points.

Christen West and Karmethia Mazique added 15 points each.

Natchez High went 3-0 in tournament play and improved their overall mark to 17-2. &uot;I was a little (concerned),&uot; said Lady Bulldogs head coach Mary Irving about the way her players would play in such an early game, &uot;but during breakfast they were talking and laughing.&uot;

&uot;They supposedly had a good night’s sleep, or at least they played like they did,&uot; she said.

The Lady Bulldogs responded quite well in the first quarter, especially on defense, as they took a 12-5 lead.

Natchez High extended its lead to 11 points, 31-20, at the half.

&uot;We kept up the tempo on defense,&uot; Irving said. &uot;The girls did a good job of hustling.&uot;

Unfortunately for Kossuth, the Lady Bulldogs didn’t let up in the second half.

Natchez High outscored Kossuth 22-16 in the third quarter and 21-9 in the fourth quarter.

&uot;We kept up the tempo on defense,&uot; Irving said. &uot;The intensity was real good.&uot;

Natchez High plays at Jefferson County Jan. 8.