RAYMOND — The Tensas Academy Lady Chiefs fell to Claiborne Academy 45-37 in the MPSA Class A South State Tournament at Central Hinds Academy on Friday afternoon.

Tensas Academy was its own worst enemy on the offensive end in the first half, scoring just 7 points.

“We were sluggish and flat. We didn’t play with any intensity at all on the offensive end,” Lady Chiefs head coach Chuck Bauerle said. “We couldn’t make any shots. We were standing there watching the ball.”

The Lady Rebels took advantage of those offensive woes in the first quarter and jumped out to a 17-3 lead and took a 23-7 lead at the half.

“I told them at halftime that the defense we played wasn’t that bad,” Bauerle said. “The second half we played much better. We got within 6 points with four minutes to go, but we couldn’t get over the hump.”

Both teams scored 8 points in the third quarter, but the Lady Rebels were able to hold on for the win despite being outscored by the Lady Chiefs 22-14 in the fourth quarter.

Mary Elizabeth Crigler led District 6-A runner-up Tensas Academy (22-9) with 10 points, and Allie Kate Gossett added nine points. Mary Miller Ratcliff, the Lady Chiefs’ leading scorer this season, scored just five points.

The Lady Chiefs will take on Tallulah Academy, the No. 3 seed from District 6-A, in today’s consolation game at 1 p.m.

CM&I boys 101, Huntington 67

RAYMOND — Darrin Murphy scored 29 points, and Raymorris Cager had 18 points to lead five CM&I players in double figures to lead the Crusaders past the Huntington Hounds Friday night in the semifinals of the MPSA Class A South State Tournament.

Huntington, the District 6-A runner-up, tried to stay with the top-ranked team in Class A in the first half and was down by just 10 points at halftime. But in the third quarter, the Hounds couldn’t keep up with CM&I and were outscored by the Crusaders 26-8 and found themselves trailing by 28 points as the quarter came to an end.

Tyler Peré led Huntington (18-11) with 29 points and Jeremy Randall had 15 points. The Hounds will take on the loser of the Claiborne Academy-Riverdale game in the consolation game today at 6 p.m. CM&I, the District 5-A champion, will take on the winner of that game in the championship game today at 7:15 p.m.