Despite holding an eight-point lead with three minutes to go, the Natchez High Lady Bulldogs were unable to hold off Wingfield Friday night in a heartbreaking, 41-40 loss.

After trailing throughout the game, the Lady Bulldogs took their first lead since early in the first quarter with two Alia Frank free throws with 6:26 to go in the game to make the score 29-28.

That score was in the midst of an 18-2 run through the first five minutes of the fourth quarter to build a 38-30 lead.

After that, things fell apart quickly.

“We got the lead with the press … and then we weren’t patient,” Natchez head coach Sue Johnson said. “We kind of let off. We thought we had the game won, and it’s not over until the buzzer sounds.”

Lady Falcons head coach Bobby Gates, for his part, felt taking out all five starters, who played sloppily throughout the fourth quarter, was what turned the game around.

“We took the starters out,” he said. “We put in girls that wanted to play.”

Lorean Shoulder led Wingfield, scoring 16 points. She was the only Lady Falcon to score in double figures.

Ke’Airra Jones and Frank led Natchez (7-9, 1-2 district), scoring 15 and 13 points, respectively.

The game started slow, with neither team shooting well in the first quarter. Wingfield (8-8) built an 11-point lead with a 6-0 run heading into the half to build a 24-13 advantage at the break.

Wingfield then went ice cold in the second half, scoring only four points in the first 13 minutes before the run to end the game.

Johnson said Natchez’s fate was decided by simple mistakes, and fixing those simple mistakes would be the difference in whether this season turns around.

“I saw some positive things,” she said. “It’s the little simple things, like blocking out, cutting off the baseline, passing and did I mention blocking out? These little things are what we need to work on. We’re going to work on our weaknesses and get stronger and stronger. I have a vision for this season.”