By TAYLOR DENMAN

The Natchez Democrat

Ferriday — Point guard Jalen Williams led Delta Charter School to a 68-60 win over Beekman Charter in the final game of its probationary season.

After the game, head coach Ron Ellis touched on the importance to stay in shape this offseason. The preparation starts right away.

This season was for kicks, next season is for the books,

“It’s good to get a win,” Ellis said. “I told them (Thursday), get in the gym and workout.”

Delta Charter jumped out to a 24-20 lead over Beekman at the half. The Storm’s full-court press forced a number of Beekman turnovers, but their district rival would make a run in the middle of the third period.

Beekman took its first lead, 27-26, at the 5:30 mark in the third quarter. After that, scoring exploded. Delta Charter retook the lead a minute later, 31-30, and went on to outscore it opponent 23-18 in the third period.

Dawson Woodruff’s 19 points and three 3-pointers helped facilitate the Storm’s lead, although he said he was not as satisfied with his shot selection.

“I didn’t hit what I should have,” Woodruff said. “I missed too many open shots.”

Forward Freddi Manglo also broke into double-digit scoring for Delta Charter with 10 points.

Beekman got scoring contributions from just five players.

Delta Charter boasted a young team this season. There were no seniors on this year’s squad and four juniors. In Delta Charter’s first season to compete for state, those juniors will lead the team as seniors.

“They’re young,” Ellis said. “Most of our mistakes come from being so young.”

Ellis is confident in his team’s prospects next season. The only thing he is apprehensive about is keeping his team together and keeping bigger schools from poaching players.

“If we stick together,” Ellis said. “The thing about nowadays is that teams recruit. You never know what they tell them, and the next thing you know they’re gone.”

Woodruff, one of the team’s juniors, now turns his sights for baseball season, but on Thursday night, it was about ending the season on a positive note.

“It’s momentum going into the offseason,” Woodruff said. “It feels pretty good.”

Delta Charter girls 45,

Beekman Charter 18

Kiaci Parker led the Delta Charter School Lady Storm with 19 points, rounding out the 2015-16 season with a 45-18 win over Beekman Charter School Thursday night.

Parker put up three 3-pointers and added four steals to her game.

“I played well,” Parker said. “I just want to make sure we all play together as a team and make sure we’re all unified.”

Thirty-six of Delta Charter’s 45 points came from Parker and freshman guard Kierra Neal. Neal had just become academically eligible in the final game and came off the bench to score 17 points.

“They initiate everything,” said Ellis, who also serves as the Lady Storm’s coach. “When those two play together, we play a whole lot better.”

Delta Charter’s defense held Beekman to single-digit scoring in all four quarters. The press gave the Lady Storm opportunities to steal the ball, and Beekman could hardly score from the floor. Seven of Beekman’s points came from the foul line.

Sydney Watts was a defensive wall for Delta Charter in the paint, tallying four blocks in the game.

The Delta Charter girls finished 7-7 in district play this season. Ellis said it’s a vast improvement from just two district wins for the Lady Storm last season. All the more reason for Ellis to keep his eyes on a playoff-eligible 2016-17 team.

“We’ll be full fledged, ready for playoffs next year,” Ellis said. “We more than tripled the wins from last year. Improvement, that’s all you can ask for.”