Natchez boys and girls fall to Raymond on Tuesday

Published 12:01 am Wednesday, December 19, 2018

VIDALIA — Jaquan Wilson ended up with a game-high 26 points and RayJay Ransom contributed with 20 points as the Vidalia High School Vikings cruised to an 84-37 win over the Block High School Bears Tuesday night.

This game was pretty much over by the time the first quarter was over as Vidalia jumped out to a 27-12 lead. And the Vikings made sure that Block would not get back in it with an impressive display of defense leading to offense over the next two quarters.

“We got a lot of steals out of our half-court defense, which resulted in easy lay-ups,” Vikings head coach Robert Sanders said. “All-around good team defense, for a change.”

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The Vikings outscored the Bears 17-4 in the second quarter to go into halftime with a comfortable 44-16 lead. But the Vikings were not done taking it to Block as they outscored the Bears 34-9 in the third quarter for a 78-25 advantage.

Brendan Smith added 10 points and DeMikal McCoy poured in nine points for Vidalia (5-7). Dexture Jefferson led Block (no record given) with 11 points and Tyreke Harbor finished with 10 points.

These two teams will face each again on Thursday, Dec. 27 at 3:40 p.m. at the Sicily Island Tournament.

Raymond girls 55, Natchez High 45

NATCHEZ — Zykeria Anderson led Raymond High School with a game-high 22 points and Leah Sutton added 19 points as the Lady Rangers defeated the Natchez High School Lady Bulldogs 55-45 Tuesday night.

Defense was a key factor for Raymond, especially in the first half. The Lady Rangers held Natchez High to just five points in the first quarter and only eight points in the second quarter in taking a 25-13 halftime lead.

The Lady Bulldogs got back in the game thanks to a big third quarter in which they put up 18 points while holding Raymond to 12 points to cut the Lady Rangers’ lead to six points, 37-31. But Natchez High was unable to keep that momentum going in the fourth quarter as the Lady Rangers outscored the Lady Bulldogs 18-14.

Kelsey McNeal led the Lady Bulldogs with 13 points and Kelvonda Arbuthnot finished with 11 points.

Natchez High (8-5) will travel to Decatur to play in the Neshoba Central Tournament on the campus of East Central Community College and will take on Southeast Lauderdale High School at 6 p.m. Friday.

Raymond boys 64, Natchez High 55

NATCHEZ — Martavin McWilliams scored 12 points and Tradavis Thompson had 11 points as the defending MHSAA Class 4A state champion Raymond High School Rangers rallied for a 64-55 win over the Natchez High School Bulldogs Tuesday night.

Raymond looked like it was going to take control of the game after outscoring Natchez High 19-14 in the second quarter for a 31-26 halftime lead. However, the Bulldogs would not go away that quietly as they outscored the Rangers 18-12 in the third quarter for a 44-43 advantage.

Unfortunately, all the momentum that the Bulldogs got in the third quarter did not last very long as the Rangers bowed up on defense and that allowed them to put up 21 points while holding the Bulldogs to just 11 points.

Kedarius Stampley led the Bulldogs with a game-high 19 points and Charles Credit added 14 points.

Natchez High (7-2) will take on Southeast Lauderdale High School at 4 p.m. Friday at the Neshoba Central Tournament on the campus of East Central Community College in Decatur.

Mangham girls 52, Ferriday 50

MANGHAM, La. — A rough first quarter for the Ferriday High School Lady Trojans proved to be the difference as they lost to the Mangham High School Lady Dragons 52-50 Tuesday night in the LHSAA District 2-2A opener.

Mangham jumped out to an 18-8 lead by the end of the first quarter and withstood a couple of attempted comebacks by Ferriday to hold on for the two-point win.

The Lady Trojans fought back in the second quarter to go into halftime down just five points, 24-19. But the Lady Dragons answered with a 16-12 edge in the third quarter to take a 40-31 lead. And that was pivotal as Ferriday nearly forced overtime, but came up a little bit short despite outscoring Mangham 19-12 in the fourth quarter.

“We got off to a slow start offensively,” Lady Trojans head coach Lisa Abron said. “Our defense was pretty good. We missed a lot of lay-ups at the beginning. A couple of time we got within two. At the end, we got within two a couple of times. We just ran out of time.”

Tierra Spurs led the Lady Trojans with 22 points and SheKayla Miller chipped in with 11 points.

Ferriday (9-4, 0-1) plays at Richwood High School at 4 p.m. Friday.

Monterey girls 41, Forest 39

FOREST, La. — Andy Gray led all scorers with 23 points as the Monterey High School Lady Wolves held on for a 41-39 win over the Forest High School Lady Bulldogs Tuesday night.

This match-up was close throughout with Monterey outscoring Forest by one point in both the second and third quarters. The two teams scored 10 points in the first quarter and seven points in the fourth quarter.

Monterey (13-5) doesn’t play again until Tuesday, Jan. 8, 2019 when it hosts St. Joseph (Plaucheville) at 6 p.m.