NATCHEZ &045; The Natchez girls have a bone to pick with Warren Central.

In the team’s first matchup more than a month ago, the Lady Vikings got a 53-49 win. Natchez had a lead late in the game, but let Warren Central climb back in and take the lead in the final minutes.

This time around, the Lady Bulldogs are working extra hard to make sure that doesn’t happen.

&uot;We’re going to come out of there with a win,&uot; Natchez’s Delequa Drake said. &uot;Coach has been drilling it in our heads that this is an important game. The team that wants it more is going to win.&uot;

Drake and fellow post player Jasmine Woods were the main reason Natchez had a chance to beat Warren Central in the teams’ first game.

This time around, Johnson has had her girls working on all the little things that cost them the first game.

&uot;I’m ready for this, but they’re the ones that have to play,&uot; Johnson said. &uot;We’ve been working on our defense, shooting, offense, layups, you name it.&uot;

As important as any of those will be Natchez’s depth. The Lady Bulldogs will get stronger and stronger as some of the young players in backup roles for Natchez come along and make stronger contributions.

The most important thing Natchez has worked on is focus. In the first game against Warren Central, a few moments of poor play basically cost the Lady Bulldogs a shot at winning. Johnson has no plans to let that happen again.

&uot;We should have beat them last time. It was just a few seconds that cost us,&uot; Johnson said. &uot;You take away some of those crucial fouls at crucial moments and we win.&uot;

Kaneshia Sprowles couldn’t agree more.

&uot;We have to stay focused for a whole game, all four quarters,&uot; Sprowles said.

The Lady Bulldogs participated in two tournaments over the holiday break, giving a young Natchez team both some time to get things together and some much-needed game experience.

Johnson said she knows the tournament play helped her team, but tonight will be the first real chance to see just how much.

Trinity at Brookhaven Academy

Trinity will take the trip over to face Brookhaven Academy, and for the Lady Saints that means a challenge.

Brookhaven (18-1, 5-0) is widely regarded as the best team in the state this season. Trinity (11-6, 3-2) has played well this season, but facing Brookhaven will be a step up from the competition the Lady Saints have seen thus far.

&uot;That’s exciting, don’t you think, being able to play the No. 1 team in the state?&uot; Trinity coach Melanie Hall said.

Trinity couldn’t have faced Brookhaven at a better time. The Lady Saints got a last-second shot Tuesday to beat Centreville in a district contest, ensuring Trinity should have plenty of confidence heading into tonight.

&uot;I was so proud of our girls,&uot; Hall said. &uot;It was a great district win for us.&uot;

But no matter who the Lady Saints area playing, even the top team in the state, the plan is still the same:

&uot;We just talk about playing hard, playing smart and having fun,&uot; Hall said. &uot;And remember who you’re playing for, who the glory goes to.&uot;