After a pair of disappointing losses, the Vicksburg Gators needed to get back on track. For the second time this year, Provine (0-5) provided the opportunity.

The Gators (4-2) got a game-high 16 points and 12 rebounds from Demetrick Allen to beat the struggling Rams, 70-50. Vicksburg, after starting 3-0 lost its last two games to Natchez and Jim Hill.

“We had two losses to two big teams that we should have won,” said point guard Jason Walker, who scored a season-high 14 points, had seven assists and three steals. “We couldn’t lose at home again.”

Miguel Henyard had 10 points and Patrick Igbokwe came off the bench to score 10 points and block two shots.

“We played two excellent teams in Natchez and Jim Hill and we played well, but didn’t execute down the stretch,” Vicksburg coach Dellie Robinson said. “I thought we played really well in the first half and had several players come off the bench and play well.”

For the Rams, the game was a mirror image of the first loss to Vicksburg nine days ago in the Coca-Cola Tournament.

Provine was 2-for-14 from the field in the first and trailed 24-10 at the end of the first.

“We had so many that rimmed in then rimmed out,” Provine coach Luther Riley said.

The Rams were led by Davian Dixon’s 14 points and Willicent Seymour added nine. Vicksburg led 45-24 at the half.

“We got out and played some pressure defense … ,” Robinson said. “We got some fastbreaks and layup opportunities and that made the difference.”

Provine, behind five 3-pointers in the third, pulled to 57-41, but Justin Henry scored three of his eight points off the bench and D’Eldrick Taylor added four.

“They didn’t come at us as hard as we thought they would,” Allen said.

(G) Provine 52, VHS 30

Starting with a completely different lineup because of disciplinary problems, the Missy Gators (1-4) managed just five points in the first half and committed 32 turnovers in the game for their second loss to Provine (5-1).

“We have to learn how to play as a team,” said Vicksburg coach Mike Coleman, who started five juniors and benched starters Shalonda Williams and Charlette Taylor for most of the first half. “I told (Provine) coach (Barbara) Hartzog that yesterday we were ready for them, but some things happened that were not conducive to having a good game …”

He would not elaborate.

After trailing by double digits, VHS got to within 39-29 midway through the fourth quarter.

After the Lady Rams’ starters re-entered the game, they pulled away behind five of Tosha Christmas’ game-high 20 points. Keisha Carter added 14.

For Vicksburg, Rae Evans scored nine and LaToya Trunell added six. Williams, the team’s leading scorer, was held to three.