By GREG MOORE

The Natchez Democrat

NATCHEZ — Jackson Dobraska led Bowling Green with a game-high 21 points and Braden Edwards scored 7 points as the Buccaneers defeated the Adams County Christian School Rebels 47-40 Thursday night.

The game started slow for both teams with Bowling Green leading ACCS 6-4 at the end of the first quarter.

The Buccaneers began to pull away in the second quarter going into halftime with a 13-point lead.

Bowling Green Head Basketaball Coach Jaron Edwards said he knew ACCS lacked a shooter outside so the Buccaneers ran a zone defense to force outside shots.

“They overpowered us with their size and height,” Edwards said. “I knew they would come out in zone, so it would be hard to score under goal. I wanted to get turnovers early in the game to help us get the lead by pressing.”

The Buccaneers continued to knock down shots and play good defense in the third quarter extending the lead to 14.

The score was 39-25 going into the 4th quarter.

The 4th quarter was the best for ACCS, as the Rebels managed to cut Bowling Green’s lead to 2 points over halfway through the 4th quarter.

“We were able to get the ball inside a good bit off of the pressure and finished,” said Richy Spears, ACCS’s head basketball coach. “We had some 3-point plays off of it. We knocked down some free throws, which was huge.”

Spears said the main thing his team has to work on is ball handling.

“Most of the time, we turn the ball over,” Spears said. “It’s in the front court, and they are shooting layups on the other end.”

Toward the end of the quarter, the Buccaneers were in bonus and the free throws helped them secure a 47-40 win.

Spears said a lot of the times ACCS is playing catch up from football season.

“We didn’t start practicing until after Thanksgiving,” Spears said. “It is going to be a work in progress. The main thing is being ready when district starts.”

ACCS’s first district game is Jan. 18 against Silliman Institute.

Austin Blanton led ACCS in scoring with 13 points. Glaston Magee chipped in 10 points for the Rebels.

ACCS travels to Riverfield Friday Dec. 21.