For whatever reason, Natchez High and Ferriday’s girls have not gotten together on the basketball court in girls for the last two seasons.

But the memories remain vivid &045; like the last meeting in the 2001-02 season when the Lady Trojans scored with a few seconds left on an in-bounds play to beat Natchez. When the two teams meet today at the NHS gym at 6 p.m., that game may seem like yesterday for everyone involved.

At least Ferriday head coach Lisa Abron, who is expecting for the same type of Lady Bulldog team from three seasons ago as the two successful programs meet up.

&uot;Just from playing them in the past, I know what the strategy is,&uot; said Abron, whose team comes into the contest at 16-3. &uot;They like to run a lot, and they have some depth over there and a couple of big girls. I’m not trying to put a lot of emphasis on it. I don’t want to get my girls frightened because they are young.

&uot;But this is a big game for us and a big test for us. I’m really anxious to play. I want to see how we compete on that level.&uot;

Neither team may have the firepower this season compared to the last time they met &045; Ferriday had Monique Jones, Natchez Crystal Brown &045; but the game pits two of the more successful programs in the Miss-Lou. The Lady Bulldogs have had their struggles this season after dropping their second divisional game last week.

Tonight’s game is another tuneup for Friday’s division game at home against Forest Hill and giving the Lady Bulldogs another opportunity to iron out their difficulties.

&uot;When we played Amite (Saturday), we played four quarters,&uot; Natchez head coach Sue Johnson said. &uot;We’ve got to keep on getting better. It’s going to take time, but we’ll get there at the right time. All I know (about Ferriday) is ever since I’ve been coaching is they’ve been quick and fast. It should be interesting.&uot;

The contest is also a redemption game of sorts for both teams as each suffered disappointing losses last week. The Lady Trojans got into a slugfest at Newellton last week before dropping the contest, but they bounced back to claim a win over Sicily Island on Friday.

The Lady Trojans open District 4-2A play next week when they host Lake Providence.

&uot;(The Newellton loss) took us out of our rhythm,&uot; Abron said. &uot;That’s the only game we’ve lost since that last one. We played Sicily Island, which is kind of weak, but we were able to run a little bit and let our bench people play, which is good. We’ll need everybody (tonight). We’ve been just getting back healthy.&uot;

The Lady Bulldogs could use the game as a tuneup after dropping that contest Friday at Warren Central. They struggled early against a Lady Viking team that upped its division mark to 3-0, leaving Natchez in almost a must-win situation Friday against Forest Hill while sporting a 1-2 division mark.

&uot;We got in a hole too quick,&uot; Johnson said. &uot;We weren’t executing, weren’t moving our feet. The main thing was we flat out were not executing. They have two post players who weren’t very big, but they were quick and aggressive. We just didn’t move with them. We can match up with them, but we’ve just got to execute. Once we get it all together, we’ll be all right.&uot;

The key for the Lady Bulldogs may be the inside presence of Delequa Drake and Jasmine Woods, who combined for 24 points in the loss to Warren Central. Drake had missed time earlier this season with an injury, and since then it’s been an alternating process &045; as with most players on the roster.

Drake also had 11 against Amite County.

&uot;She’s getting it back together,&uot; Johnson said. &uot;If we can get them both clicking on the same night, we’ll be all right. One will click one night, the other will click the other night or neither will click. We’re working on the whole team getting to clicking. Right now we haven’t had that yet.&uot;

Yet the inside presence is a concern for the Lady Trojans, who base their offense around Jameca Garrison and getting points off steals in transition. The Lady Trojans have used Tiffany Chatman and Ashley Atkins at times underneath, but both lack the experience Drake and Woods bring to the floor.

&uot;We won’t do anything different than what we’ve been doing,&uot; Abron said. &uot;They probably know we’re kind of weak on the inside. It would be a good boost of confidence if we can win. But win or loss, I just want them to play well. I just hope we can hang with Natchez.&uot;