By Michael Kerekes

The Natchez Democrat

NATCHEZ — The Adams County Christian School girls may have gotten a lopsided win Monday night, but head coach Melanie Hall said she saw plenty on which to work.

The Lady Rebels hosted Amite School Center and had little difficulty against the visiting Lady Rebels, as ACCS rode strong performances by Tory Laird and Brandis White to a 60-16 win. But Hall called the win “sloppy,” saying there were a lot of defensive miscues.

“I thought it was a sloppy win as far as the team goes,” Hall said. “We had different individuals step up that did good things at times, but at times, our footwork (was poor) and we had too many reaching fouls where we weren’t in position on defense.”

White led the way in the first quarter, as she scored nine of her 13 points while ACCS totaled 26 points in the first. ASC was held to just five points in the first period.

It didn’t get much better for the visiting Lady Rebels from there. ASC only scored four points in the second quarter, and ACCS took a 37-9 lead into the half. The visiting Lady Rebels went scoreless in the third while ACCS added 16 points to its lead, making it 53-9 after three.

ASC finally got past the 10-point mark in the fourth quarter, tallying seven points in the fourth.

Six of ASC’s 16 points came from free throws, something with which Hall said she was not happy.

“You put them on the line by reaching and not being in position on defense,” Hall reiterated.

But Hall said there were some positives to take away from the game.

“I feel that, if our girls can stay healthy, we can be a really good basketball team,” she said. “We have good unity, and everyone’s glad when the other person is doing well. Anytime we can play basketball, it’s a gift, and we thank God for that.”

Laird led the Lady Rebels (5-0) in scoring with 16 points.

Amite School Center 55,ACCS boys 53

After trailing much of the game, a field goal by ACCS’s Ethan Loyed cut tied the game 53-53 with 1:13 left.

But the hometown Rebels were unable to score any more points, and two free throw shots, one by Blake Terrell and one by Daniel Cothren, sealed the win for the visiting Rebels.

ACCS trailed 32-26 at the half, and 41-33 at the end of three, but managed to claw its way back into the game within the final minute and a half of regulation.

“Early on we did OK, then our youth showed at the midpoint (of the game),” ACCS head coach Rick Fife said. “Us coming back shows our determination and our heart. As the season goes along, we’ll get better.”

Loyed and Ryan Strong both tallied 14 points for ACCS, but the hometown Rebels had no answer for ASC’s Trevor Coleman, who led in scoring with 26 points. Austin Easley added 10 points for the visiting Rebels.

ACCS is now 0-1 on the season.