NATCHEZ — Heidelberg High School was well-aware of Franklin County’s Vintrice Briggs in the second round of the 3A South State tournament Friday.

Heidelberg’s plan was to contain Briggs n the tournament semifinals Saturday.

Fortunately for Franklin County, plan B was just as effective.

“We got off to a fairly rocky start,” Lady Bulldogs head coach Charles Moore said.

“They were double- and triple-teaming Briggs, with her scoring 33 points (Friday) night. But we were able to get the ball to Cece (Miller), who had two 3-pointers and a total of 10 points in the second quarter to get us back into the game.”

Franklin County would go on to win 59-44, improving their record to 23-3 on the season. The Lady Bulldogs will take on Choctaw Central in the South State championship game after Choctaw beat Sumrall 79-55 Friday.

Miller finished with 28 points on the evening, and Moore said her big game came from doing things her team normally doesn’t ask of her.

“She was on fire from the baseline for us,” Moore said. “She hadn’t shown us that touch against other teams, because we just didn’t need her to. She hasn’t stepped up as a post player for us before, but she did tonight. She hit 12 shots — two were threes, and the rest were under the basket.”

Briggs added 11 points for the Lady Bulldogs, who trailed 28-25 at the half. Franklin County took the lead 40-34 at the end of the third.

“I felt like the main difference for us was that we had a deeper bench,” Moore said. “Their fatigue showed in the late third and early fourth quarter.”

Moore said his team has quite a challenge ahead when the Lady Bulldogs take on Choctaw Central Monday.

“They’re going to press us full court and handle the ball extremely well,” Moore said. “They take advantage of what you give them. If you give them the 3-pointer, they’re going to shoot it.

“They’re extremely well-coached, and they’re probably the smartest team I’ve seen here, as far as basketball sense. It’s going to be an extremely tough game for us to play.”