MCCOMB — Zyaire Ewing led all scorers with 27 points and Kirdis Clark added 17 points to lead the two-time defending MHSAA Class 5A state champion Natchez High Lady Bulldogs to a 70-43 win over the McComb Lady Tigers Friday night.

Natchez High jumped out to a 28-13 lead over McComb before playing somewhat sluggishly over the next two quarters. That allowed the Lady Tigers to cut that 15-point deficit, but only down to 12 points by the end of the third quarter.

The Lady Bulldogs had their way with the home team on both ends of the court in the fourth quarter, culminating in a 21-6 advantage.

“I think we did really well. Communication was much better than it has been. We worked out some kinks,” head coach Alphaka Moore said. “Zyaire really did a good job playing her game. Kirdis stepped up defensively. Skylar (Morgan) stepped up defensively as well.”

Morgan finished with 12 points and Ernesha Chatman scored seven points for the Lady Bulldogs. Mylisha Hammond was McComb’s leading scorer with 16 points, but the next closest scorer for the Lady Tigers was Shayla Felder with eight points.

Natchez High (2-1) will be on the road again today as it will take on Murrah High School at 3 p.m. as part of the Jackson Public Schools (JPS) Thanksgiving Tournament. The game will be played at Forest Hill High School.

Jefferson County 76, Prentiss 30

PRENTISS — Diamond Smith, Antrell Gales and Kailyn Hammett each had outstanding performances for Jefferson County High School as the Lady Tigers steamrolled past the Prentiss High School Lady Bulldogs 76-30 Friday night.

Smith scored 21 points, grabbed 11 rebounds and blocked five shots. Gales had 15 points and seven rebounds and she joined in on the block party with three rejections of her own. Hammett nearly had a double-double with nine points and 10 assists to go with five steals.

“We played great defense and it turned into our offense,” head coach Flora McKnight said. “Our transition offense was really working tonight. We played team ball.”

The Lady Tigers did not take long to take control of this game. By the time the first quarter was over, they led Prentiss 23-9. It did not get any better for the Lady Bulldogs as they were outscored 17-4 in the second quarter and 18-4 in the third quarter.

Jefferson County (2-0) travels to Vicksburg to take on Warren Central High School next Monday night.