BROOKHAVEN — Natchez High and South Pike were engaged in a back-and-forth battle in the first half of their game Monday afternoon at the Brookhaven High School Tournament.

But the third quarter proved to be the turning point in the game as the Lady Eagles outscored the Lady Bulldogs 23-14 en route to taking a 63-52 in Day 1 of this four-day tournament.

Neither team got off to a spectacular, or even good, start from the field. By the time the first quarter was over, the score was 9-9. And it only got a little better for both teams in the second quarter. Each team put up 12 points in that stanza to make the score 21-21 at halftime.

The third quarter, however, was a much different story. Led by Deyonna Goode and Kayla Powell, South Pike broke open the tie ball game with solid play on both ends of the court. Goode led all scorers with 16 points and Powell had 14 points.

The Lady Eagles also did a good job of holding two of Natchez High’s leading scorers, Keyana Miller and Ashley Minor, in check throughout the game. Both Miller and Minor finished with 10 points.

The Lady Bulldogs had their best offensive output of the game in the fourth quarter and they were still outscored by the Lady Eagles 19-17.

Natchez High (4-1) will look to bounce back when it takes on Clarion-Ledger Class 5A preseason No. 5 McComb today at 4 p.m.

South Pike boys 74,

Natchez High 71

BROOKHAVEN — The Natchez High Bulldogs took a six-point lead into the fourth quarter, only to have South Pike rally by outscoring them 28-19 to take a three-point win Monday night to wrap up Day 1 at the Brookhaven High School Tournament.

After the first quarter ended in a 19-19 tie, Natchez High’s defense slowed down South Pike in the second quarter. The Bulldogs scored 15 points in that quarter while the Eagles managed just 11 to trail 34-30 at the half.

The two teams traded basket for basket in the third quarter, which ended with Natchez High leading 52-46. The Bulldogs were led by Dearius Griffin with 15 points, Davonta Green with 14 points and Ryan Lewis with 11 points.

But South Pike’s trio of Deangelo Coleman, D’Querias Bullock and Joshua Elks helped the Eagles pull victory from the jaws of defeat. Coleman led South Pike with a game-high 26 points while Bullock had 15 points and Elks added 14 points.

Natchez High (2-2) will take on McComb today at 5:30 p.m.