NATCHEZ — It was a knockdown drag out for the Trinity Episcopal varsity boys in its game against Briarfield Academy Friday: The Saints knocked the Rebels down and dragged them out.

Five Saints players scored in double digits as they pounded the Rebels 81-39. The multi-talented Givonni Dent, who tallied 17 points on the evening, led the charge for Trinity.

Saints head coach David King said his team is on the upswing after a rough start to the season.

“We’re slowly getting better each game,” King said. “We’re getting into basketball shape finally. We’re trying to put a tough month of December behind us, and January looks promising.”

Dent’s play underneath the basket is something King said he takes advantage of, due to Dent’s skillset.

“He’s a 5-foot-10 player that plays about 6-foot-3. He’s the only seasoned post player we have. He can shoot as well as anyone, but we need him underneath the goal.

“He has long arms and just stays in the air a long time. He uses his body as well as anyone I’ve ever coached.”

Trinity’s Kent King finished with 16 points on the evening, while R.J. Fleming added 14 points. Brandon Daggs scored 11 points and Taylor Strahan had 10 points.

“The unselfish play of our kids was huge for us tonight,” King said. “They’re a very unselfish group. They like to pass the ball around.”

After leading the first quarter 23-8, the Saints got cold early in the second quarter, failing to score in the first two minutes of the quarter.

Fortunately for them, Briarfield managed just four points during that span, and Daggs got things going for Trinity again with a 3-point basket at the 5:45 mark. The Saints would go on to take a 45-20 lead at the half.

The third quarter was more of the same, with the Saints going on a 13-4 run in the first 4:30 of the quarter. By the time the fourth quarter rolled around, the Saints led 65-30, prompting the scorekeeper to allow the clock to run uninterrupted during the fourth.

With five minutes left in regulation, King began subbing his starting players out.

“That was very big for us, being able to get (the backups) in,” King said. “We’re not a very big team, so we have to play up-tempo, and we need depth because of that.

“I always preach defense first. They have to be able to play defense and hustle to get a chance to come in.”

Briarfield’s Jacob Hopkins led the team with 16 points.

Trinity girls 68,

Briarfield 35

The Lady Saints also managed a blowout against the Lady Rebels Friday.

Brandis White led Trinity in scoring with 20 points. Bethany Ogden added 17 points and Madeline Cross finished with 12.

“We played hard defensively and held them down in the first half,” girls head coach Richy Spears said. “There’s still some stuff we need to work on and get better at.”

Mary Roland led Briarfield in scoring with 11 points.