WOODVILLE — Natchez High and Wilkinson County went back and forth for three quarters and the way this game was going, fans from both teams probably wouldn’t have been surprised if overtime would have been needed to determine the outcome.

However, the Bulldogs clamped down on defense in the fourth quarter and that proved to be the difference as they outscored the Wildcats 14-8 en route to a 50-44 win Tuesday night.

DeArius Griffin led Natchez High (6-5) in scoring with a game-high 20 points and Derrian Johnson poured in 13 points. No one else even came close to scoring in double digits for the Bulldogs, who had a 15-10 lead over the Wildcats after one quarter of play on to find themselves trailing at halftime 23-22.

The third quarter was a seesaw battle and ended with the game tied at 38-38. In the fourth quarter, the Bulldogs’ defense made it tough for the Wildcats to get good looks at the basket and that allowed the visitors to leave with a victory.

Phillip Fountain was the high scorer for Wilkinson County (5-8) with 14 points and Allenzae Staggers chipped in with 10 points.

Natchez High opens up MHSAA Region 6-6A play on Friday night when it hosts Terry. Wilkinson County plays at the Dexter Invitational Dec. 26-29.

Jefferson County 57, Port Gibson 55

PORT GIBSON — Jefferson County overcame a bad third quarter with what Tigers head coach Marcus Walton called “a strong fourth quarter” as they held on to defeat the Port Gibson Blue Waves Tuesday night.

The Tigers went into halftime leading the Blue Waves 34-31. Yet when the third quarter was over, they were down 45-41.

Jefferson County went on a run to go up by seven with less than three minutes left, only to let Port Gibson stay in the game after a four-point play.

However, the Tigers made sure the Blue Waves would not overtake them in the final minute. After being outscored 14-7 in the third quarter, Jefferson County (8-5) responded with a 16-10 advantage over Port Gibson in the fourth quarter. Jarmel Anderson led the Tigers with 20 points and Ry’Ale Brown had 15 points.

“We played strong defense. We had a strong fourth quarter. That was the key to the ball game,” Walton said. “We came out sluggish in the third quarter.”

The Blue Waves were led by Salento Sykes, who had a game-high 26 points.

Jefferson County begins MHSAA Region 7-3A play Friday night at home against Prentiss.

Calvin 47, Monterey 40

CALVIN, La. — The Calvin Cougars held on to defeat the Monterey Wolves Tuesday night. No other information on the game was available. Monterey (13-4) hosts Cathedral on Thursday, Dec. 27.