NATCHEZ — The final minutes of the Natchez High Lady Bulldogs’ game against McComb High School Tuesday night were slow and painful.

Luckily for the Lady Bulldogs, it wasn’t a slow and painful death.

Natchez was able to fend off McComb and come away with a 53-47 win despite sending McComb to the free throw line seven times in the final two and a half minutes. Natchez head coach Sue Johnson said her team was fighting off the Christmas break layoff.

“We looked raggedy out there,” Johnson said.

“I’m glad that these holidays are over now, because these days off are killing us. We can’t get into a rhythm.”

With a 44-39 lead at the 2:30 mark in the fourth, McComb’s Audrekus Dexter kept drawing fouls from the Lady Bulldogs. She was 8-of-11 in free throws during the game’s final stretch, and the calls drew frustration from the Lady Bulldogs.

Johnson, however, said her players had enough to worry about with their own level of play to worry about the officiating.

“We can’t blame the refs for nothing,” Johnson said.

“We can’t let the referees take us out of the game. We missed enough free throws and layups tonight to score 101 points — exactly. You have to handle your own business. You can’t worry about the refs.”

Natchez made several key shots in the final two minutes to keep McComb from taking the lead. Ricarla Shotwell scored the final two points of her 16-point game with 2:04 remaining.

Shotwell fouled out with 1:56 to go, but her supporting cast stepped up for her to help Natchez maintain control. With 1:40 left, Ashley Minor sank two free throws after McComb’s Keaira Patterson drew a technical foul.

Rebecca Minor scored on a layup at the 1:15 mark, Jacquita Williams scored a free throw with 20 seconds left and Minor scored two as the clock expired.

Natchez led 26-17 at the half, but a poor third quarter allowed McComb to come within striking distance. McComb scored 14 points while holding Natchez to just seven, giving the Lady Bulldogs a slim 33-31 lead entering the fourth quarter.

Despite her team’s rusty performance, Johnson said they would continue working to improve.

“We’re going to keep on keeping on until we smooth these kinks right out,” Johnson said. “As long as we keep finding a way to win, we can live with that.”

And Johnson knows exactly what areas her team needs to improve upon.

“Defense, layups, rebounds, free throws,” Johnson said. “And, we have to eliminate the 22 turnovers we had tonight. We tend to get into a hurry and rush things, and we have to get that smoothed out.

“People think we don’t work on free throws and layups, but you can ask the girls — they do. Right now, it’s just a mental thing.”

Ashley Minor scored 10 points for Natchez. The Lady Bulldogs rose to 13-2 on the season.

Natchez boys 59,

McComb 57

Trevon Chatman tallied led in scoring with 29 points as the Natchez boys edged McComb.

Derrian Johnson added 13 points for the Bulldogs, who rose to 8-9 on the season. Natchez trailed 27-23 at intermission.

Natchez will travel to Terry Friday.