NATCHEZ — The Adams County Christian School varsity girls used a tough defense to stymie Tensas Academy Thursday night in a blowout win.

Tory Laird led the Lady Rebels with 16 points as ACCS beat the Lady Chiefs 63-28, improving to 11-0 on the season.

Tensas Academy (1-5) didn’t have anyone score in double figures, and head coach Nicky Pere said his girls were simply outmatched by the Lady Rebels.

“We played a really good team,” Pere said. “They’re a double-A school, and they’re well-coached. They’re hard to handle, so we have to give them credit.

“We’re a really young team, with one junior, two sophomores and four eighth graders starting, so they’re taking their lumps, but our day is coming.”

But it was evident that Thursday was ACCS’s day early on. The Lady Rebels opened the game on a 21-0 run before Tensas Academy’s Katie Irby hit a field goal with 1:59 left. Irby’s free throw at the 1:34 mark was the only other point scored for the Lady Chiefs in the first, as ACCS was ahead 28-3 at the end of one.

ACCS head coach Melanie Hall began to sub in her backups in the second, and the Lady Rebels extended their lead to 37-15 at intermission. The starters came back in to start the third, but Tensas Academy still managed 11 points to make it 53-26 at the end of the third.

The Lady Rebels used a mix of starters and backups in the fourth and limited the Lady Chiefs to two points to end the game.

“To God be the glory,” Hall said after the game. “I thought our man-to-man defense was good. I’m fortunate to have girls that complement each other so well and allow each other to do a variety of things. If we keep getting better, there’s no limit to what they can do.”

ACCS’s Jessica Reynolds tallied 15 points, and Abby Givens added nine points. Hall said despite the strong win, there were still things to work on.

“I feel like our zone defense needs to get better,” Hall said. “It needs work, because we might need it down the road. I thought our post play was better, and if we continue to develop that, we’ll be a dangerous team.”

Melonie Netterville led the Lady Chiefs with nine points, and Heli Matthews scored seven points. Irby finished the game with five points.

“Hopefully they’re learning the hard way — under fire,” Pere said of his young players. “We thought we had a lull in the first half, and then we picked it up in the second half. Some of these girls are playing varsity and JV, so they’re getting more time (on the court).

“I have to give Coach Hall credit. She’s a great coach, and she has some well-coached teams.”

ACCS boys 39, Tensas Academy 36

Ethan Loyed had 13 points and Chris Guedon added 12 as ACCS tallied its first win of the season.

The Rebels (1-6) led 27-20 at the end of the half and 33-31 at the end of the third. ACCS head coach Rick Fife said it felt good to get the first win, but free throw shooting needed to get better.

“This could help the group build confidence,” Fife said. “We played really good defense, especially in the fourth quarter, holding them to five points. I think that was the key to victory.

“We were six for 26 on the free throw line, so that’s what we need to work on, but that will get corrected in practice.”

ACCS will host WCCA next Tuesday.