LAFAYETTE, La. &045; Natchez High’s Bulldogs put the defensive clamps on in the second quarter en route to a 59-36 win over Carencro in the opening round of the Sunkist Shootout.

The Bulldogs (9-4) held a modest 14-12 lead by the end of the first quarter but used a 21-3 run in the second quarter to take a sizeable 35-15 lead into halftime. The Bulldogs outscored Carencro 10-8 in the third to lead 45-23 heading into the fourth quarter.

Jeremy Houston led Natchez with 14 points. Lance Charles led Carencro with 16.

The Bulldogs will face Richwood at 4 p.m. today in the second round.

Hazlehurst 49, Natchez High girls 46

HATTIESBURG &045; The Lady Bulldogs battled Hazlehurst the entire game but couldn’t get over the hump late in a loss at the Hattiesburg Holiday Classic.

The Lady Indians held a 9-6 lead by the end of the first quarter, and the three-point difference held up at the end. They led 22-19 at half and upped the lead to 36-31 after three quarters, but the Lady Bulldogs cut back into two points in the fourth.

Delequa Drake led the Lady Bulldogs with 11 points. Y. Williams had 28 for Hazlehurst.

Callaway 64, Wilkinson County boys 46

JACKSON &045; The first day in the Jackson Public School tournament had a heck of a draw for the Wildcats, and Callaway came away with a solid win.

The Wildcats (6-8) struggled in the second quarter after trailing 16-14 at the end of one. There Callaway held a 23-13 edge to lead 39-27 at halftime, and a 10-5 edge in the third on the Chargers’ behalf put Wilkinson trailing 49-32 heading into the fourth quarter.

Thomas McQuarter led Wilkinson with 12 points. John Johnson led Callaway (4-8) with 19 points.

Callaway 61, Wilkinson County girls 52

JACKSON &045; The Lady Wildcats stuck with a strong Callaway team despite a sluggish first quarter and played well at times against Juanita Ward and the Lady Chargers.

Callaway (13-4) used the first quarter to build a 21-12 lead, but Wilkinson (10-4) used a 14-10 edge in the second to slice into the lead some and trail 31-26 at halftime. But Callaway outscored WC 18-12 in the third to lead 49-38 heading into the fourth quarter.

Nakia Stewart led Wilkinson County with 17 points. Ward led Callaway with 16.