DOTHAN — The Charles Henderson Lady Trojans take great pride in their defense, and it showed in the first round of the AHSAA Region Tournament in Dothan.

Charles Henderson disrupted the Clarke County offense, and held the hot-shooting Lady Bulldogs to just 2-of-12 from behind the arc in a 49-44 win Thursday afternoon.

Charles Henderson head coach Dyneshia Jones said her team executed the game plan well the entire game.

“We capitalized on good defense today,” said Jones. “Anytime you put pressure on someone, and talk and yell, it will distract them point blank. They will make bad passes, and then the next man will get the steal and head down the court for the lay-up. We played well.”

Charles Henderson trailed 7-5 after the first quarter, due to what Taj Brundidge, Alexis Jones and India Blakely called “big gym jitter,” but went right to work in the second.

The Lady Trojans scored the first four points of the quarter to take the lead for good, and outscored Clarke County 17-6 in the quarter.

Brundidge said the big quarter came down to one simple thing.

“I had to keep the team’s intensity up,” said Brundidge. “It doesn’t matter if we are up or down by five. We have to want it more than them.”

Charles led by as many as 12 points in the fourth quarter, but saw Clarke County get hot late and chip away at the lead.

Clarke County had a chance to tie the game at 48 with a three with nine seconds to go, but the shot missed the mark and the Lady Trojans brought down the rebound to seal the win.

The late rebound was nothing new for Charles Henderson, who out rebounded Clarke County 40-33.

“You have two great teams playing, and everyone is good right now,” said Jones. “So it comes down to the small things that win games. Rebounds, free throws and defense are what wins games.”

Alexis Jones and Kyra Scott led the Lady Trojans with 11 points each. Brundidge pitched in 10 more, to along with seven rebounds. Mauri Davenport scored six, and India Blakely dropped in eight.

With the win, Charles Henderson advances to the regional final on Saturday against UMS-Wright.