WESSON — The Wesson and North Pike boys won first round gamesTuesday in the opening round of the Wesson InvitationalTournament.

The defending champ Wesson Cobras crushed the St. AloysiusFlashes of Vicksburg 73-40 and the North Pike Jaguars dumpedNatchez Cathedral 50-30.

Today’s boys games begins with Cathedral facing St. Aloysius atnoon in the losers bracket. The winners bracket includes Wessonagainst Franklinton, La. at 3 p.m. and Dexter against North Pike at6.

Wesson 73, St. Al 40

The Cobras (8-5) struck quickly in first-quarter action to takea 21-8 lead over the sluggish Flashes (1-10). Wesson continued topressure St. Al in the second quarter to push their lead to 49-15,despite subbing by Coach Ron Kessler in the second quarter.

Both benches saw plenty of action in the second half as St. Aloutscored Wesson 25-24.

“We played well in the first half,” said Kessler after the win.”We shot the ball well from the outside. We scored buckets off thetransitions.”

Kessler had five players finish in double figures. LeadingWesson was Adrian Merchant with 16 points. Firing in 12 points wasBlake Pickett. Finishing with 10 points each were Mason Warren,Collin King and Phil Fortenberry. King and Fortenberry finishedwith six rebounds apiece. King led with five steals.

Kessler was pleased with Fortenberry who started last night.”Phil Fortenberry scored the first eight points of the game forus,” said Kessler.

For the 1-10 Flashes, Chase Smith scored 16 points.

North Pike 50, Cathedral 30

Directing Coach Keith Russ’s Jaguars (3-7) were Erik Robinsonwith 14 points followed by Clifton Young with 11.

North Pike overcame a 13-10 first quarter deficit with a 16-2run on the Green Wave in the second quarter to take a 26-15 lead inthe dressing room at halftime.

In the second half, the Jags outscored the Greenies 24-15 toadvance to the winner’s bracket.

Matthew Hall and Matt Goss paced Cathedral (3-10) with 10 pointsapiece.