TERRY — After a stunning loss at home to No. 5 Jim Hill, the Terry Lady Bulldogs were looking to get back on track in the ultra-competitive MHSAA Division 6-6A against Natchez High.

But for the second time this week, No. 3 Terry was hosting another ranked opponent within this division. The visiting Lady Bulldogs from Natchez High are ranked No. 4 in Class 6A.

Natchez High got off to a good start in the first quarter, but Terry responded with a big second quarter of its own and held off Natchez High’s second-half rally to defeat the visiting Lady Bulldogs 53-49 Friday night. And more importantly, Terry swept the season series from Natchez High.

“We played a good, hard defensive game. But we still missed too many layups. We did better with the free throws. We’re our own worst enemy,” Natchez High head coach Sue Johnson said.

Terry struggled mightily to get shots to fall against Natchez High’s defense in the first quarter and wound up scoring just five points. Yet the host Lady Bulldogs only trailed by eight points at the end of the quarter.

But once the second quarter started, Terry looked unstoppable. Led by Shaniqua Love, Caitlyn Spane and Ashley Gresham, Terry outscored Natchez High 22-6 to take a 27-19 halftime lead.

“They used a full-court press. They put a press on us. We put a press on them,” Johnson said.

Love and Spane scored 13 points apiece and Gresham added 12 points for Terry (14-5, 2-2).

The visiting Lady Bulldogs tried their best to mount a comeback in the second half. Even though Natchez High scored 14 points in the third quarter and 16 in the fourth, they couldn’t make enough stops when Terry had the ball to overtake the hosts.

“We were behind most of the game. When we decide we want to make layups…it’s just a mental thing. We’re going to get it right,” Johnson said.

Ashley Minor scored 17 points to lead Natchez High (13-3, 2-2), but she was the only NHS player to end up in double figures. The Lady Bulldogs host Class 5A No. 1 Lanier next Tuesday.

Wilkinson County 46,

Amite County 42

WOODVILLE — Lineasia Palmer scored 15 points and Tyesha Harris added 10 points as Wilkinson County held on for a four-point win over Amite County in Region 7-3A action Friday night.

Neither team shot lights out in the first quarter. In fact, it was far from it. The Lady Wildcats ended up with a 9-4 lead at the end of the quarter. Then Tydesheaia Pool led the Lady Trojans back after that dismal opening eight minutes.

Pool scored the majority of her game-high 23 points in the second and third quarters that allowed Amite County to end up in a 36-36 tie at the end of the third quarter. But in the fourth quarter, Wilkinson County ramped up the defensive pressure and held the Lady Trojans to six points while scoring 10 of their own for the close win.

Wilkinson County (6-12, 2-1) plays host to Hazlehurst next Tuesday.

Franklin County 58,

Hazlehurst 41

MEADVILLE — Vintrice Briggs finished with 17 points and Jessica Jackson had 12 points to lead the Franklin County Lady Dawgs to a 17-point win over the Hazlehurst Lady Indians Friday night in Region 7-3A action.

Franklin County had its way with Hazlehurst on both ends of the court in the first half. The Lady Dawgs jumped out to a 17-8 lead over the Lady Indians at the end of the first quarter and by halftime was ahead 33-14.

Hazlehurst scored no more than eight points in each of the first three quarters before putting up 19 points in the fourth quarter. But by that point Franklin County (13-0, 2-0) had a big lead and cruised to the victory.

Franklin County travel to Fayette to Jefferson County next Tuesday.

West Lincoln 39, Cathedral 31

BROOKHAVEN — Marisa Purski had a game-high 16 points and Katie Mullins added 13 points as the West Lincoln Lady Bears defeated the Cathedral Lady Green Wave Friday night in a Region 7-1A game.

The first quarter was pretty much the difference in the outcome of this game. West Lincoln held Cathedral to only six points while scoring 14 points itself. The Lady Bears did extend their lead to 10 points at the end of the third quarter and made sure the Lady Green Wave would not cut into their lead too much in the fourth quarter.

Ginny Daggett led Cathedral (4-9, 1-1) with 11 points and Ana Perry chipped in with eight points. The Lady Green Wave will host Bogue Chitto next Tuesday.