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The Warriors 10-14-year-old youth basketball team won its championship Saturday. Members of the team include, Quinton McBride, Joshua Credit, Corey Bragg, Tyler Lawrence, Casey Bragg, Kameron Carter, Alonzo Bernard and Justin Lyles. The Warriors are coached by Patricia Jefferson. (Reed DeSalvo | The Natchez Democrat)

Lyles Photography’s Carlin Champ, blue, attempts to take a ball away from Patriots Cortland Harris during the 5-9-year-old title game. (Reed DeSalvo | The Natchez Democrat)

(Reed DeSalvo | The Natchez Democrat)

The Patriots youth basketball team won the 5-9-year-old championship Saturday. Members of the team include, Aiden Bernard, Ashton Bernard, Tyilan Mills Ahmad Franklin, Cortland Harris and JaColby Harris. The Patriots were coached by Hayes Harris and Adrian Bernard. (Reed DeSalvo | The Natchez Democrat)

New Hope’s Tyvon Morton races to the basket as a host of Warriors players defend. The Warriors defeated New Hope, 29-24. (Reed DeSalvo)

Warriors’ Kameron Carter slips past New Hope’s Breanna Ford, right, and Patrick Davis, left, for a layup Saturday during the 10-14 year old 2nd 2 None Sports youth basketball championship game at McLaurin Elementary. (Reed DeSalvo | The Natchez Democrat)

Led by the stellar play of backcourt mates of Joshua Credit and Kameron Carter, the Warriors managed to hold off a furious New Hope fourth-quarter rally to claim the 2nd 2 None Sports 10-14-year-old championship, 29-24.

“My team felt like they were going to win,” Warriors coach Patricia Jefferson said. “They were the underdogs, but they came in with the mindset they were going to win. They felt like this was their game.”

New Hope led at the end of the first quarter 9-7, but during the break the referees were made aware of a New Hope roster error that yielded a pair of technical fouls and four free throws for the Warriors.

Alonzo Bernard connected on three of the attempts to push his team ahead, and the Warriors never looked back.

Credit connected on a 3 to open the second period, and Carter made two layups to push the Warriors’ halftime advantage to 17-9.

“Credit is an older player, and I told him the only way we can win is if we do it as a team,” Jefferson said. “He told me ‘OK, I’ll let them do it. I’m there in the background and will make sure they’re doing it right.’ I appreciate him for taking charge. The second half, I just sat down and let them play ball.”

After being shut out the entire second quarter, New Hope didn’t get its next basket until the four-minute mark of the third on a Dramion Marshall jumper.

The Warriors led 21-13 after the third, but Tyvon Morton scored 10 of his team-high 17 points in the final period to put a scare into the Warriors, but it wasn’t enough.

“This is real cool,” Jefferson said.

PATRIOTS 20, LYLES PHOTOGRAPHY 15

Cortland Harris scored the first five points for the Patriots, and Tyilan Mills scored seven more during a pivotal second-half stretch to help the Patriots get past Lyles Photography 20-15 in the 5-9-year-old championship.

“We had a good season,” Patriots head coach Hayes Harris said. “It started off kind of rocky; we had to teach them the fundamentals. But as the season progressed, they began to work as a team and eliminating the mistakes.”

After being tied at the half, 8-8, the Patriots seized control of the game with a 7-2 third quarter.

However, Lyles Photography wouldn’t go away quietly with Kvian Smith draining a 3-pointer from the top of the key to cut her team’s deficit to five, but that’s as close as they would come.

“We rebounded, played defense and made every possession count,” Patriots assistant coach Adrian Bernard said. “But it’s all about the kids. We’re trying to keep the community up, and we go from there.”

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