NATCHEZ — A slow first period and foul trouble in the fourth was the downfall of the Trinity Saints.

The Saints lost 60-50 to the Hillcrest Christian School Cougars.

“We’re still knocking the rust off,” head coach David King said.

The Cougars came out early building a 10-point lead by the end of the first period on the hot hand of senior guard Bradley Parker.

Parker scored eight of his 16 points in the first period.

The Saints rallied in the second to cut Hillcrest’s lead to just five points at the end of the second half.

Trinity was able to carry the momentum into the third period by spreading the ball around.

Senior Matthew Freeman led the charge. He led the Saints with 18 points.

Six different players contributed to a 15 point scoring frenzy to pull the Saints to within a point at the expense of getting their key players in foul trouble.

“Hillcrest is a very disciplined team,” King said. “We got behind and the fouls followed.”

Hillcrest capitalized on the fouls scoring hitting 12 free throws in the fourth period.

“To play a close game with a team like Hillcrest will do us good in the long run,” King said. “We have a good chance of being a good team.”

Hillcrest Christian School 51,

Trinity Varsity Girls 42

The Trinity Lady Saints couldn’t find an answer for Hillcrest’s Karly Kliesch and Whitney Hedgepeth.

Kliesch and Hedgepeth each scored 16 points in the 51-42 win over the Lady Saints.

The Lady Saints couldn’t find the bottom of the net in the first period. Hillcrest kept the Lady Saints scoreless to start the second period with a 16-0 lead in the game.

But the Lady Saints were not about to give up.

Senior Brandy Hall found her stroke from the three-point line. She led the Saints with 18 points.