NATCHEZ — When the Lanier Lady Bulldogs and Natchez High Lady Bulldogs have faced each other in recent years, the outcomes have usually been lopsided, double-digit wins by Lanier.

Not so Tuesday night. In fact, Natchez High was one quarter away from pulling off the upset of the No. 5 team in Class 5A before Lanier rallied in the fourth quarter for a 49-46 win.

The host Lady Bulldogs hung tough with the visiting Lady Bulldogs from Jackson in the first half, trailing 14-12 at the end of the first quarter and 22-19 at halftime. Natchez High surprisingly dominated Lanier in the third quarter to take a 35-30 lead.

However, Lanier responded by outscoring Natchez High 19-11 in the fourth quarter to escape with the three-point victory.

Keyana Miller led Natchez High with 16 points and Rashonae Rice chipped in with nine points. Kierra Jordan finished with a game-high 26 points while Morgan Catchings had eight points to lead Lanier.

Natchez High (13-3) returns to MHSAA Division 6-6A action Friday night when it hosts Brandon.

Ferriday 61, Sterlington 55

FERRIDAY — Sha’Keria Kelly scored a season-high 32 points and Jada Griggs added 14 points as the Ferriday Lady Trojans overcame a tough second quarter to defeat the Sterlington Lady Panthers Tuesday night in their LHSAA District 2-2A opener.

Ferriday had a 22-16 lead after one quarter only to see that six-point lead nearly go away. The Lady Trojans scored just nine points in the second quarter and led by just one point, 31-30, at halftime.

However, the Lady Trojans bounced back by outscoring the Lady Panthers 16-11 in the third quarter to go ahead 47-41. Alayah Mitchell led Sterlington with 22 points and Latasha English had 15 points.

Ferriday (5-13, 1-0) hosts Lake Providence Friday night.

Grace Christian 27, Monterey 22

ALEXANDRIA, La. — Kaley Baker led Monterey with seven points and Reagan Tiffee had six points, but it was not enough as the Lady Wolves lost to the Grace Christian Lady Warriors in their LHSAA District 4-B opener Tuesday night.

Monterey led Grace Christian 20-17 after three quarters of play, but the Lady Warriors outscored the Lady Wolves 10-2 in the fourth quarter to pull off the win.

Monterey (15-4, 0-1) plays host to Avoyelles Charter Friday night.

Hazlehurst 64, Wilkinson County 63

HAZLEHURST — Danisha Davis scored 17 points and Latasha Arnold had 15 points to lead four Hazlehurst players in double figures as the Lady Indians held on to defeat the Wilkinson County Lady Wildcats in MHSAA Region 7-3A action Tuesday night.

Hazlehurst led Wilkinson County 17-9 at the end of the first quarter, but the Lady Wildcats scored 22 points in the second quarter to trail by only one point at halftime, 31-30.

The Lady Indians increased their lead to four points at the end of the third quarter, then held off the Lady Wildcats in the fourth quarter. Lineasia Palmer led Wilkinson County with a game-high 21 points and Ambernekia Palmer had 11 points.

The Lady Wildcats (5-13, 0-1) hosts Franklin County Friday night.