Natchez High Bulldogs dominate Vancleave Bulldogs in playoff opener

William Johnson scores 23 points as Natchez High wins 66-40 in MHSAA Class 5A first round

Published on Feb. 24, 2026

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The Natchez High School Bulldogs, the Region 3-5A champion, defeated the Vancleave High School Bulldogs, the Region 4-5A No. 4 seed, 66-40 in the first round of the MHSAA Class 5A Playoffs. William Johnson led Natchez High with 23 points, while Daylan Haywood added 16 points. Natchez High led 29-13 at halftime and pulled away in the second half.

Why it matters

This win sets up a second-round playoff matchup between Natchez High, the top seed from Region 3-5A, and Brookhaven, a fellow strong program in the class. The Bulldogs' dominant performance at home shows they will be a tough out in the postseason as they pursue a state championship.

The details

Natchez High led 12-6 after the first quarter and then outscored Vancleave 17-7 in the second quarter to take a 29-13 halftime lead. In the third quarter, the combination of Johnson and Haywood took over, with Johnson hitting three 3-pointers to help Natchez High outscore Vancleave 22-13 and build a 51-26 advantage. Natchez High cruised in the fourth quarter to the 66-40 victory.

  • The game was played on Saturday, February 24, 2026.

The players

William Johnson

The leading scorer for Natchez High, pouring in a game-high 23 points including three 3-pointers in the third quarter to help the Bulldogs pull away.

Daylan Haywood

Scored 16 points for Natchez High and helped set up Johnson for some of his open 3-point looks in the second half.

Randall Newell

Scored 10 points and grabbed 10 rebounds for Natchez High, providing a strong presence in the paint on both ends of the floor.

Kameron Morgan

Contributed 8 points for Natchez High, including making a couple 3-pointers, and played well on both ends of the court according to the coach.

David Haywood

The head coach of the Natchez High Bulldogs, who praised his team's defensive effort and ability to play together in the victory.

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What they’re saying

“Our guys came out and played good defense. They played hard. We were making some shot early.”

— David Haywood, Natchez High head coach (natchezdemocrat.com)

“Daylan was able to find William for some open threes in the second half. William hit three 3s in the third quarter.”

— David Haywood, Natchez High head coach (natchezdemocrat.com)

“Guys fed off each other. Kameron played extremely well on both ends. He handled the ball well and made a couple of threes.”

— David Haywood, Natchez High head coach (natchezdemocrat.com)

“Randall had 10 points and 10 rebounds. He was a man in the paint for us on both ends of the court.”

— David Haywood, Natchez High head coach (natchezdemocrat.com)

What’s next

Natchez High will face Brookhaven in the second round of the MHSAA Class 5A Playoffs, with the game scheduled for Tuesday, February 27, 2026.

The takeaway

Natchez High's dominant performance at home in the playoff opener shows they will be a tough out in the postseason as they pursue a state championship. The Bulldogs' balanced scoring attack and stifling defense overwhelmed their opponent, setting up an intriguing second-round matchup with fellow powerhouse Brookhaven.