Bessemer Academy came from behind to defeat Meadowview Christian 49-41 Friday at the Morgan Pepsi Classic.

After scoring with ease in the first quarter, Meadowview Christian’s offense was slowed by a stingy Bessemer Academy defense. The Trojans scored 16 points in the opening quarter, but were held to 25 the rest of the way.

“I think we need to settle down and realize that once we have a lead, it is not over,” Meadowview Christian head coach James Murphy said.

A nine-point lead after the first quarter quickly evaporated after Meadowview was held to only four points in the second quarter, which allowed Bessemer Academy to take a 23-20 lead into halftime.

The Rebels led the entire second half. Even when Meadowview made a run in the third quarter — led by two three-pointers by Clayton Thorton — Bessemer answered with back to back buckets to stretch its lead back to seven.

“We came out and tried to man them up and try to play off on some of their guys and really key on [C. J. Grimes] and [Carstella Hayes],” Bessemer Academy head coach Jeremy Perkins said. “We just didn’t have much success in that so we just dropped into our zone.”

The zone was effective in slowing down Meadowview’s top scorers, Grimes and Hayes.

Hayes was scoreless after the first quarter. Grimes was effective in limited spurts and scored eight of his 17 points in the second half.

Murphy felt his team tried to force shots once they got behind.

“I think that comes with youth,” Muprhy said. “Instead of making something happen, try to force it.”

After splitting two games in the Pepsi Classic, the Trojans have some time off before their next game at Morgan Jan. 4.