Canton High boys 54, Natchez High 45

NATCHEZ — Jakel Barnes finished with a game-high 16 points for Natchez High School on its Senior Night, but a big third quarter propelled the Canton High School Tigers to take a 54-45 win Friday night over the Bulldogs.

The first quarter ended in a 10-10 tie and Canton used an 11-8 edge in the second quarter to take a 21-18 lead at the intermission. Then the Tigers came out of the other side of the break like a completely different team – especially offensively.

Led by Kelbrico Ratliff and Tillin Hutton, the Tigers put up 20 points while holding the Bulldogs to 11 points for a 41-29 advantage. Ratliff led Canton (11-14) with 10 points and Hutton added eight points.

The Bulldogs managed to outscore the Tigers 16-13 in the fourth quarter, but it was too little, too late. T.J. Credit, Kedarius Stampley, and Tyreeq Washington each scored seven points for the home team.

Natchez High (11-14) will enter the MHSAA Region 6-5A Tournament, which will take place at Wingfield High School in Jackson, as the No. 4 seed and will take on No. 1 seed Forest Hill High School Tuesday at 5:30 p.m.

Canton High girls 55, Natchez High 44

NATCHEZ — Kelsey McNeal led Natchez High School with a game-high 17 points and Rearnna Mayberry, the only senior on the Lady Bulldogs’ roster, finished with 10 points, but it was not enough as the Canton High School Lady Tigers came away with a 55-44 win on Senior Night at Natchez High.

The first quarter was the key factor in the outcome of this game as Canton (20-7) raced out to a 21-8 lead. The Lady Tigers outscored the Lady Bulldogs 10-9 in the second quarter for a 31-17 halftime advantage.

Canton extended its lead to 16 points by the end of the third quarter before Natchez High outscored the Lady Tigers 16-11 in the fourth quarter.

Morgan Williams ended up with 16 points and Ashala Lewis added 14 points for the Lady Tigers.

Natchez High (11-15) will be the No. 4 seed in the girls’ bracket of the MHSAA Region 6-5A Tournament at Wingfield High School and will take on No. 1 seed Brookhaven High School Tuesday at 7 p.m.