FERRIDAY — Instead of keeping its open date, Ferriday decided to take on Block Friday night. But with Jasmine Upchurch unable to play because of the flu, the Lady Trojans were a completely different team.

Block’s Lady Bears, which, like Ferriday, is off to a good start this season, took advantage of Upchurch’s absence in getting out to a big first-half lead and then holding on for a 49-41 win over the Lady Trojans.

Ferriday head coach Lisa Abron s aid she knew that not having that post presence that Upchurch brings would be tough for her team to overcome. Block did a good job in double-teaming Jalessia Davis and limited her to just eight points.

“We needed our other post player, Jalessia Davis, to step up. She tried,” Abron said. “Cold shooting and not being able to score inside and rebound and fast break…we really couldn’t get that going. They had two post players who dominated on the inside. They got a lot of putbacks.”

Led by Arnesha Beard and Tyra Jefferson, Block (15-4) took an 11-7 lead at the end of the first quarter and by halftime the Lady Bears were leading the Lady Trojans 28-16. Beard led all scorers with 15 points and Jefferson finished with 12 points.

“The first half did us in. We were confused a little bit on defense,” Abron said.

But Ferriday (20-3) would mount a huge comeback in the second half, cutting the lead to six points early in the fourth quarter. However, the Lady Trojans’ rally ended when they got into foul trouble.

“They ran out of gas, but we couldn’t put up enough offense to catch up. (Chante) Poole, my point guard, fouled out with about a minute left. I’m disappointed, but I’m glad it’s a non-district game,” Abron said.

Deonka Birdon and Atasia Banks joined Davis in leading the Lady Trojans in scoring with eight points each. Abron said that Upchurch will be back for the District 2-2A opener next Tuesday night at Sterlington.

Jefferson County 67, North Pike 56 (OT)

SUMMIT — Charlita White and Erin Wells combined to 56 points and the Lady Tigers needed every one of those points as they had to go to overtime to defeat the Lady Jaguars in Region 7-3A action Friday night.

Jefferson County seemed to have had control of the game after taking a 32-19 lead at halftime. But North Pike responded by outscoring the Lady Tigers 21-9 in the third quarter and then forced overtime with a 14-13 edge in the fourth quarter.

But the Lady Tigers had an answer for the Lady Jaguars’ answer with a decisive 13-2 advantage in overtime.

White led all scorers with 29 points and Wells contributed for 27 points for Jefferson County (8-9, 3-2). Olivia Kennedy led North Pike with 18 points.

Trinity Episcopal 57, River Oaks 13

NATCHEZ — Caroline Ketchings scored 17 points and every member of the Lady Saints’ roster ended up in the scoring column in their 44-point rout of the Lady Mustangs Friday night in MPSA District 3-AA action.

The first quarter set the tone for this game as Trinity Episcopal scored 24 points while holding River Oaks without a single point. By halftime, the Lady Saints enjoyed a 35-3 lead.

With the Lady Saints having such a big lead, head coach Richy Spears unloaded his bench and everyone got into the act and on the scoreboard.

Madelyn Cross had eight points and Bethany Ogden added seven points for Trinity Episcopal (13-9, 2-0). Tiffany Brown led River Oaks with six points.

Tensas Academy 57, Franklin Academy 18

WINNSBORO, La. — Mary Miller Ratcliff scored a game-high 13 points and Emma Arceneaux had 10 points as the Lady Chiefs had no problem defeating the Lady Cougars Friday night in an MPSA District 6-A game.

Tensas Academy (12-7, 3-0) led by just five points at the end of the first quarter, but it dominated the second and third quarter to open up a commanding 40-point lead. In each of those quarters, Franklin Academy (0-3 in District 6-A) scored just two points.

Katie Little led the Lady Cougars with eight points and Mallory Welch added six points.

Tallulah Academy 48, Huntington 29

TALLULAH, La. — Huntington’s struggles in MPSA District 6-A continued Friday night as the Lady Hounds fell behind early and could not make a big run when they needed to as they lost to the Lady Trojans by 19 points.

Led by Anna Book, Meagan Givens and Courtney Ernst, Tallulah Academy took a 26-16 lead at halftime and never allowed Huntington to get back in the game in the second half. Book led all scorers with 11 points while Givens and Ernst each chipped in with eight points.

No one for Huntington (8-12, 1-3) was able to have double-digit scoring on this night. Sara Hoover led the Lady Hounds with eight points while Abi Brown, Julie Moak and Kristen Havard each has six points.