BROOKHAVEN — Ashley Minor scored 12 points and Kiara Johnson chipped in with eight points to lead a balanced scoring attack as the Natchez High Lady Bulldogs held on for a 49-45 win over Brookhaven Thursday night at the Brookhaven Tournament.

Natchez High jumped out to a 17-7 lead after one quarter of play, but its lead dwindled to six points by halftime and was just four points at the end of the third quarter thanks to the effort the Lady Panthers’ defense as well as the play of Tiakara Kelly and Fredericka Freeman.

Kelly and Freeman shared the game’s game-high scoring honors with 13 points apiece. The next high scorer for the Lady Panthers was Precious Patterson with seven points.

However, the Lady Bulldogs were able to fend off Brookhaven’s rally as both teams ended up scoring 16 points in the fourth quarter.

The big difference in the game was that Natchez High (5-0) had nine players in the scoring column to just six players for Brookhaven. Rebecca Minor, Ricarla Shotwell and Jacquerra Williams each contributed with six points for the Lady Bulldogs.

Natchez High’s Lady Bulldogs don’t play again until Tuesday, Nov. 30 when they travel to McComb to take on the Lady Tigers at 6 p.m.

WCCA 53, Amite School Center 28

CLINTON, La. — Even though the Wilkinson County Christian Academy Lady Rams led Amite School Center throughout much of the first three quarters, the Lady Rebels kept the game close.

The fourth quarter, however, was a different story as WCCA outscored Amite School Center 24-7 en route to a decisive 25-point win Thursday afternoon at the Silliman Shootout.

“I was pleased with the way we kept fighting. We got off to a slow start, but we kept grinding away,” Lady Rams head coach Ray McDaniel said. “We pulled away in the fourth quarter.”

WCCA led Amite School Center 12-5 at the end of the third quarter. But the Lady Rebels hung tough with the Lady Rams during the next two quarter and only trailed by eight points, 22-14, at halftime and by that same margin at the end of the third quarter with the score at 29-21.

Yet the Lady Rebels could not contain Caroline Walker and Brandi Norwood for the entire game. Walker finished with a game-high 24 points and Norwood added 11 points for the Lady Rams.

And there weren’t any changes to the defense that the Lady Rams used in the fourth quarter to put the game out of reach. “Just a little bit better defense,” McDaniel said.

WCCA (3-4) takes on Adams County Christian School at noon Saturday.

Franklin County 55, Loyd Star 42

MEADVILLE — A back-and-forth first half by Loyd Star and Franklin County was followed by a dominating third quarter on both ends of the court by the Lady Dawgs as they defeated the Lady Hornets Thursday night.

Franklin County struggled offensively in the first half and it showed as it led Loyd Star just 10-9 at the end of the first quarter and was tied with the Lady Hornets 23-23 by halftime.

The Lady Dawgs then proceeded to regain the momentum with a big third quarter with a smothering defense that led to easy transition baskets. Led by Vintrice Briggs and Kierra Collins, hey outscored the Lady Hornets 20-4 to take a commanding 43-27 lead.

Briggs led Franklin County with 16 points while Collins added 12 points and Jessica Jackson chipped in with 10 points. Tyisha Patterson led Loyd Star with a game-high 18 points and Erica Smith had 13 points.

Franklin County (5-0) doesn’t play again until Friday, Dec. 3 when it travels to Summit to face North Pike at 6 p.m.

Monterey 64, Georgetown 44

MONTEREY, La. — Monterey and Georgetown went back and forth in the first half, but the Lady Wolves turned up the defensive pressure in the third quarter and that proved to be key in their win over the Lady Bulldogs Thursday night.

Monterey jumped out to a 23-16 lead over Georgetown after one quarter of play yet only led by six points at halftime after the Lady Bulldogs edged the Lady Wolves 12-11 in the second quarter.

But that would be as close as Georgetown would get the rest of the game. Monterey’s stifling defense came into full effect as soon as the third quarter got under way and they ended up holding the Lady Bulldogs to just four points in building a 14-point lead.

The Lady Wolves then outscored the Lady Bulldogs 18-12 in the fourth quarter to put the game away. Rachel Pecanty led Monterey with 15 points while Kendall Lipsey scored 12 points and Kaley Baker had 10 points.

Georgetown was led by Haley Cockerham with 14 points and Tanner Maxwell with 12 points.

After having next week off for the Thanksgiving holiday, Monterey (6-1) returns to action on Tuesday, Nov. 30 when it travels to Olla, La. to take on LaSalle.