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Anna Charlotte Redhead dribbles down the court in an attempt to make two points for Wilkinson County Christian Academy Lady Rams. (Patrick Murphy, The Natchez Democrat)

Alexis June begins to shoot the ball toward the goal for Wilkinson County Christian Academy against Prentiss Christian School. (Patrick Murphy, The Natchez Democrat)

Aca Randall goes up for two in the girls MAIS Class 1A South Region consolations round against Prentiss Christian School on Saturday at Wilkinson County Christian Academy. (Patrick Murphy, The Natchez Democrat)

Kenzie Bryant attempts to block a shot for the Wilkinson County Christian Academy Lady Rams against a Prentiss Christian School player. (Patrick Murphy, The Natchez Democrat)

RJ Fisher travels down the court for WCCA Rams in the South Region championship game while Parker Almond tries to defend for Riverdale Academy. (Patrick Murphy, The Natchez Democrat)

Thomas Vannoy attempts to make a shot for Wilkinson County Christian Academy Rams while being guarded by Jackson Riggs for Riverdale Academy Rebels. (Patrick Murphy, The Natchez Democrat)

Roderick Bailey goes up for a three-pointer for Wilkinson County Christian Academy while Noah Wren attempts to block the shot for Riverdale Academy. (Patrick Murphy, The Natchez Democrat)

Riverdale Academy's Ben Almond shots the ball behind the three-point arc in Saturday's MAIS Class 1A South Region championship game against Wilkinson County Christian Academy. (Patrick Murphy, The Natchez Democrat)

Ben Sessions pumps up the crowd after Wilkinson County Christian Academy made some free throws in the fourth quarter against Riverdale Academy in the MAIS Class 1A South Region championship. (Patrick Murphy, The Natchez Democrat)

Wilkinson County Christian Academy's Roderick Bailey and RJ Fisher chest bump each other after the win over Riverdale Academy in the MAIS Class 1A South Region championship. (Patrick Murphy, The Natchez Democrat)

Players for Wilkinson County Christian Academy embrace and scream after winning the MAIS Class 1A South Region championship game against Riverdale Academy on Feb. 15. (Patrick Murphy, The Natchez Democrat)

From left Ken Perry, Wilkinson County Christian Academy boys basketball head coach, embraces RJ Fisher after WCCA won 47-43 over Riverdale Academy in the MAIS Class 1A South Region championship game. (Patrick Murphy, The Natchez Democrat)

From left, Andrew Sessions, Roderick Bailey, Rj Fisher and Thomas Vannoy pose with their all tournament trophies for the Wilkinson County Christian Academy Rams. (Patrick Murphy, The Natchez Democrat)

The Wilkinson County Christian Academy Rams boys basketball team with the MAIS Class 1A South Region championship trophy. (Patrick Murphy, The Natchez Democrat)

WOODVILLE — The Wilkinson County Christian Academy Rams claimed the South Region title with a 47-43 victory over Riverdale Academy Rebels on Saturday.

WCCA will enter the Class 1A Midsouth Association of Independent Schools tournament as the No. 1 team from the South Region. The Rams will play at 7:45 p.m. today at Delta Academy against Sharkey-Issaquena Academy, the No. 4 team from the North Region.

“It’s an honor to even get into the tournament,” said Ken Perry, WCCA boys basketball head coach. “But going into the tournament as the No. 1 seed is a big honor.”

Meanwhile, Riverdale Academy enters the MAIS Class 1A playoffs as the No. 2 team from the South Region. The Rebels will play at 7:45 p.m. Wednesday against host Delta Academy, the No. 3 seed from the North Region.

With a minute left in the game, the Rams used the free-throw line to their advantage. Ben Sessions and RJ Fisher made key free throws with 10 seconds left in the game. Before Sessions stepped to the free-throw line, he was one for two from the line.

Sessions made the first free throw and then missed the second. The Rebels went down the court and tried to make a shot but it came up short and Fisher came away with the rebound for the Rams. Fisher was fouled and went to the line with WCCA leading 45-43.

Before taking the last two free throws, Fisher was two for seven from the free-throw line.

“I knew I had to make them,” Fisher said. “I just made them at the right time.”

Fisher finished the game with eight points and 57% from the free-throw line. Meanwhile, Sessions finished with six points and made 40% of his free throws attempted. As a team, WCCA shot 52% from the free-throw line.

“I think Ben and RJ being juniors and playing in the championship for the first time, they had to overcome pressure to make their free throws,” said Perry. “They missed some key shots earlier in the game but they overcame it. That’s part of the game.”

Parker Almond led Riverdale Academy with 14 points and Caden Long was second on the Rebels squad with 12 points. Long was two for two from the free-throw line.

WCCA girls 47,

Prentiss Christian 36

WOODVILLE — The Lady Rams earned a 47-36 victory over Prentiss Christian School in the consolation round of the girls MAIS Class 1A South Region on Saturday.

With the victory over PCS, the Lady Rams advance to the Class 1A tournament as the No. 3 team from the South Region. Mike McGraw, head coach of WCCA girls basketball, said he thought the Lady Rams played great today.

“It has been a great year and the girls have played hard all year,” McGraw said. “That’s all you can ask for as a head coach.”

In the state tournament, WCCA will play at 6:30 p.m. today against host Delta Academy, the No. 2 team from the North Region, in the first round.

One of the turning points in the game was a scuffle in the fourth quarter between WCCA’s Gracie Cavin and PCS’s Jana Johnson.

In the middle of the court, the ball was loose and Cavin and Johnson each grabbed the ball at the same time, so it was called a jump ball. After both of the players were on the ground, Johnson threw the ball at Cavin’s head on the floor and Johnson was called for a technical foul.

Cavin went to the line and made both of the free throws due to the technical foul. She was five for six from the free-throw line and made three in the fourth quarter.

Cavin led the Lady Rams with 19 points in the game. Lexi Freeman was second on the team with nine points.

“I’m honored to lead the team and we work together as one,” Cavin said. “Without my teammates, I wouldn’t be able to lead them. I’m grateful for them every day.”

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