By PATRICK JONES AND By PATRICK MURPHY

PEARL — It took a big fourth quarter for an MHSAA Class 5A Natchez High School team with a winning record to defeat one of the worst teams in all of Class 6A in Pearl High School Tuesday night.

Natchez High went into the fourth quarter trailing Pearl by six points before scoring 25 points in the final eight minutes of regulation to give the Bulldogs a 62-58 win over the Pirates. Natchez Head Coach David Haywood said he was proud of the Bulldogs’ efforts in the game.

“I just wanted to commend the players with the way they handled themselves with some bad calls that went against them down the stretch,” Haywood said. “Our kids were able to maintain their composure and come away with a big win.”

The Bulldogs jumped out to a 17-13 lead over the Pirates after one quarter of play, but Pearl responded by outscoring Natchez High 19-16 in the second quarter to go into halftime down by just one point, 33-32.

The third quarter is where this game almost got away from the visitors. The Bulldogs managed to score a mere four points while the Pirates (4-18) weren’t much better with 11 points, but enough to give the home team a surprising 43-37 lead.

However, Natchez High (12-7) answered in a big way by outscoring Pearl 25-15 in the fourth quarter for what ended up being a tougher win than expected.

James Singleton and Kedarius Stampley led the Bulldogs with 17 points each and Travon Jackson added 11 points. Jerry Johnson led the Pirates with a game-high 18 points. Haywood said both Singleton and Stampley each played hard for the Bulldogs in the game.

“I expected them to do so much and to be honest; I have even asked them in a couple of games to give more,” Haywood said. “Last night, midway through the third quarter, they put their foot on the gas and they kept it there. We needed that to give ourselves a victory.”

Natchez High returns to MHSAA Region 6-5A action today when they travel to Jackson to take on Jim Hill High School at 7:30 p.m.

Pearl High School girls 83,

Natchez High 22 (Tuesday)

PEARL — The Pearl High School Lady Pirates, ranked No. 2 in MHSAA Class 6A in one statewide poll, cruised to an 83-22 win over the Natchez High School Lady Bulldogs Tuesday night to go to 22-0 overall. No other information on the game was available.

Natchez High (9-11) plays at Region 6-5A rival Jim Hill High School today at 6 p.m.

Brookhaven Academy boys 54,

Cathedral 41 (Tuesday)

NATCHEZ — Tyler Fortenberry scored 16 points and Gavin Brogden had 13 points to lead four Brookhaven Academy players in double figures as the Cougars defeated the Cathedral High School Green Wave 54-41 Tuesday night in MAIS District 4-4A action.

Dylan Fortenberry poured in 11 points and Britton Nelson chipped with 10 points for the Cougars, who jumped out to an 18-10 lead by the end of the first quarter and later outscored the Green Wave 19-7 in the third quarter for a commanding 47-22 lead.

Kaden Batieste led Cathedral (11-12, 1-3) with 15 points, but he was the only Green Wave player to score in double figures. The Green Wave plays at district foe Oak Forest Academy in Amite, La. at 7:30 p.m. Friday.

Brookhaven Academy girls 57,

Cathedral 21 (Tuesday)

NATCHEZ — It did not take long for Brookhaven Academy’s varsity girls’ basketball team to show its dominance as the Lady Cougars rolled to a 57-21 win over the Cathedral High School Lady Green Wave Tuesday night in an MAIS District 4-4A match-up.

Led by Anna Brantley Warren, Emily Claire Felder, and Madison Moak, Brookhaven Academy led Cathedral 16-8 at the end of the first quarter and then proceeded to outscore the Lady Green Wave 22-4 in the second quarter for a 38-12 halftime lead.

It was more of the same in the third quarter as the Lady Cougars scored 19 points while holding the Lady Green Wave to five points to go up 57-17. Warren led them with a game-high 13 points while Felder and Moak each had 10 points.

Cate Drane led Cathedral (10-13, 0-4) with 10 points and Madeline Smith had five points. The Lady Green Wave play at district opponent Oak Forest Academy Friday at 6 p.m.