After three straight losses to the Lady Chiefs of Tensas, Trinity Episcopal was ready to get the monkey off its back.

They did it with defense, limiting Tensas to just six points over a 21-minute stretch of the game to build a double digit lead and never looked back in a 39-27 win.

“I’ve always said if you use the talent and abilities God gives you to the best of your abilities, good things will happen,” Trinity coach Melanie Hall said. “I felt like team unity played a big role in this. The girls played well together. To God be the glory.”

“We just didn’t play real well,” Tensas coach Allen Crigler said. “We got behind and we had to go to man defense, and we weren’t used to playing that. They were hitting their outside shots early so we got out of the zone, then they were open for lay-ups. They had their pick.”

Eliza Jones and Olivia Walden scored 12 points apiece to lead the Lady Saints (14-15), who claimed the South State championship with the win.

Kaitlen Emfinger scored 11 points to lead Tensas (15-19).

The Lady Chiefs took a 10-5 lead late in the first quarter.. Things went extremely cold for Tensas after that, as they scored only 4 points in the second quarter and were shut out in the third.