NATCHEZ — The Adams County Christian School Lady Rebels team came into the MAIS District 5-AAA Tournament as the No. 1 seed in the girls’ bracket — and without one of their top players as well as their floor general.

Point guard Danyel Weir scored 22 points in the Lady Rebels’ top-seeded-clinching win at Silliman Institute last Monday night, but she also turned her ankle so bad that head coach Melanie Hall said she was unable to play in their semifinal-round game against tournament host, cross-town rival, and No. 4 seed Cathedral High School Friday afternoon.

Yet the Lady Rebels overcame that adversity to defeat the Lady Green Wave 45-16 for their seventh win in their last eight games and, more importantly, to send them to today’s girls’ championship game. After the game, Hall said that she was never more proud of her players than she was during the game for the way they persevered.

“I was just very proud of my girls. My kids stepped up and took care of themselves,” Hall said. “The way they played offensively and defensively. For your point guard to go out…that just shows how much heart and determination these girls have. To God be the glory.”

Shelby Mason led ACCS with a game-high 19 points. Marlee Magee had seven points while Drue Boyd and Katherine Freeman added six points apiece. And the Lady Rebels’ defense held Cathedral to single-digit scoring in all four quarters.

ACCS had a 10-2 lead after one quarter of play before outscoring Cathedral 14-3 in the second quarter and 15-5 in the third quarter for a 39-13 lead.

Even though the Lady Green Wave was the No. 4 seed, it was the ‘home’ team by virtue of Cathedral being the host school for this district tournament. But it didn’t seem to bother the Lady Rebels at all.

Baylee Graning led Cathedral with nine points and Ryleigh Probst chipped in with three points.

ACCS (7-14) will play in the girls’ championship game today at 6 p.m. against Silliman Institute. Cathedral (5-21) will go up against Central Private School today at 3 p.m. in the girls’ consolation game.

No. 2 seed Silliman Institute defeated No. 3 seed Central Private School 32-22 Friday night in the other girls’ semifinal-round game.

With District 5-AAA being a four-team district, they will all be playing in next week’s Class AAA South State Tournament.

Silliman Institute boys 58,

Cathedral 41

NATCHEZ — Ben LeJeune and Justin Pace led Silliman Institute with 12 points apiece as the No. 2 seed Wildcats defeated the No. 3 seed and tournament host Cathedral High School Green Wave 58-41 Friday night in the boys’ semifinals of the MAIS District 5-AAA Tournament.

With the win, Silliman Institute advanced to the boys’ championship game and will take on No. 1 seed Central Private School today at 7:30 p.m.

Sam Mosby and Colby Passman, two of Cathedral’s leading scorers during the regular season, where held in check by a tough Wildcats defense. Mosby finished with seven points while Passman had six points. Jonovan Harris led the scoring for the Green Wave with 15 points.

Also with six points for the Green Wave was Chase Kaiser.

Even though Silliman outscored ‘home’ team Cathedral in the first and third quarters, the Wildcats were only up by eight points over the Green Wave at the end of the third quarter before they finally put the game away thanks to an 18-9 advantage in the fourth quarter.

Cathedral (6-19) will take on Adams County Christian School in the boys’ consolation game today at 4:30 p.m.

Central Private School boys 39, ACCS 33

NATCHEZ — Braxton Shows and Logan Paul finished with 11 points apiece as the No. 1 seed Central Private School Rebels defeated the No. 4 seed Adams County Christian School Rebels 39-33 Friday afternoon in the boys’ semifinals of the MAIS District 5-AAA Tournament at Cathedral School.

The first half was the key to Central Private advancing to the boys’ championship game. Those Rebels led the ACCS Rebels 10-6 at the end of the first quarter and 18-10 at halftime.

ACCS outscored Central Private 8-6 in the third quarter to cut the lead to six points, 24-18, but the upset-minded Rebels were unable to get over the hump despite scoring 15 points in the fourth quarter. That’s because CPS also scored 15 points in the fourth quarter.

Glaston Magee led ACCS with 10 points and Wes Stockstill ended up with seven points.

ACCS (2-19) will take on Cathedral High School game in the boys’ consolation game today at 4:30 p.m.

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.

Vidalia girls 44, General Trass 26

LAKE PROVIDENCE, La. — The Vidalia High School Lady Vikings did something they rarely have done over the last 18 seasons of mostly futility – end the regular season on a two-game winning streak.

The Lady Vikings did so after defeating the General Trass High School Lady Panthers 44-26 on the road in what was also their LHSAA District 2-2A season finale.

And it was indeed enough for them to earn a berth in the Class 2A Playoffs, their first appearance in the postseason since the 2000-2001 season.

Jamya Smith led the Lady Vikings with 11 points while Angel Heckard and Hailey Williams added 10 points apiece. They jumped out to a 14-9 lead after one quarter of play and capped off the win by outscored the Lady Panthers 11-2 in the fourth quarter.

Vidalia (6-18, 4-8) will learn who its first-round opponent will be when the girls’ brackets are released on Monday, Feb. 11.