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Trinity Episcopal’s Dee Fleming drops a pass off to DeSanto Rollins Thursday during an MAIS boys basketball game against Clinton Christian Academy. (Nicole Hester | The Natchez Democrat).

The Trinity Episcopal boys basketball team celebrated its third-consecutive district championship. The Saints topped Clinton Christian Academy 71-58 Thursday night. (Nicole Hester | The Natchez Democrat).

Trinity’s Kevontaye Caston goes in for a layup. (Nicole Hester | The Natchez Democrat).

The Trinity Episcopal girls basketball team celebrated its third-consecutive district championship. The Lady Saints topped Clinton Christian Academy 72-43 Thursday night. (Nicole Hester | The Natchez Democrat).

Trinity Episcopal’s Kalia Campbell makes a layup Thursday during girls basketball action. (Nicole Hester | The Natchez Democrat).

Trinity head coach Andy Blair performs a dance move while his team cheers him on following Thursday’s 71-58 win. (Nicole Hester | The Natchez Democrat).

(Nicole Hester | The Natchez Democrat).

Trinity Episcopal’s Dee Fleming drops a pass off to DeSanto Rollins Thursday during an MAIS boys basketball game against Clinton Christian Academy. (Nicole Hester | The Natchez Democrat).

Each member of Trinity Episcopal’s basketball team lit up with delight as coach Andy Blair showed off his dances moves following the 71-58 victory over Clinton Christian Academy Thursday night.

With the win, the Saints (18-4, 9-1) earned the MAIS Class 5-AA district championship for the third year in a row.

“I can’t say how proud I am of these kids,” Blair said. “This is just one of the bridges we had to cross. We have set ourselves up with the right seed, and we played hard. Tonight was our night.”

To make the victory extra special, seniors Kevontaye Caston and David Jackson each scored 15 points to cap off the last home game of their careers.

“It feels good to get the win,” Jackson said. “This is a moment I have to cherish.”

“I told them tonight that this is what we’ve played for the last three years,” Blair added about his seniors. “This was the last time they were ever going to play in this gym, and they fulfilled the opportunity.”

Trinity was able to press the basket and get down low to make baskets that CCA wasn’t able to defend.

Also, the Saints were aggressive on defense to come up with multiple tipped and stolen balls.

“The team has set the tone going into the playoffs,” Blair said. “At this point, I don’t think anyone wants to play us.”

By the start of the fourth quarter, Trinity led by 18 points, 52-34, and Blair pulled his starters with just less than four minutes to play.

As Jackson walked to the bench to watch his team secure the win, he embraced his coach with open arms.

“This was a big and important win,” Jackson said. “We needed to beat them to be district champs, and we were hungry. Hopefully this will transfer into tournament play.”

Dee Fleming was the leading scorer for Trinity with 19 points.

The No. 1 seeded Saints will play the No. 4 seed in District 6 on either Tuesday or Wednesday in the South State Regional Tournament at Tallulah Academy.

The top four teams in the region will advance to the Class AA championship.

Trinity (girls) 72, Clinton Christian Academy 43

Seniors D’Asia Mitchell and Jasmine Ivory put on a senior night special to aid the Lady Saints to a MAIS Class 5-AA district championship, 72-43.

Mitchell ended the night with 33 points, sinking seven 3-pointers, and Ivory added 19 points including five 3s of her own.

“They both were on,” Trinity coach Fay Minor said. “They really wanted to put on a good show tonight.”

CCA was the first to score on the night, but after the seniors got into a rhythm, it was a clear path to victory for the Lady Saints.

To end the first quarter, Ivory fell to the ground at the buzzer as she watched one of her 3s fall through the hoop. At the halftime buzzer, she made the perfect assist to Mitchell in the back right corner just so her fellow teammate could do the same.

Minor said that both Ivory and Mitchell spent extra time in the gym Wednesday to make sure they were sharp.

“They really wanted to win this one, and they did really well,” Minor said.

The Lady Saints will play the No. 4 seed in District 6 on either Tuesday or Wednesday in the South State Regional Tournament at Tallulah Academy.

“We are just trying to get everyone ready for the playoffs,” Minor said. “I think they are all playing really well as a team. We played team ball tonight and that’s going to be the key to surviving in the playoffs.”

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