[2/21/03]Vicksburg High is one in away from the Mississippi Coliseum and Gators’ coach Dellie Robinson hopes his team can enjoy Saturday with few worries.

The Gators (26-7), the Division 4-5A champions, will square off against Olive Branch, a team that has not lost to a Mississippi team this season, in the first round of the North State tournament at Starkville tonight at 6:30. Starkville will play Murrah at 8.

The two winners will play for the North State championship on Saturday, but with a win, the Gators automatically advance to the coliseum, a place Robinson hasn’t been since 1996. The loser of tonight’s game will play in Saturday’s consolation game with the winner advancing to the Big House.

“If we can get the win Friday night, it will be a huge weight off of our shoulders,” Robinson said. “We can come in on Saturday more relaxed knowing you still have a chance at winning a state championship.”

In the Gators’ way is a team Robinson knew little about before reviewing several tapes.

The Conquistadors (28-1), whose only loss came to Germantown, Tenn., will provide Vicksburg with an outside shooting threat that Robinson said may be the best his team will face this season.

“The have got four really good shooters,” said Robinson, who led the Gators to a 50-40 win over Columbus in Tuesday’s North State satellite game. “They put four on the outside and one inside, put one inside and move the ball around the horn looking for that 3-point shot.”

Vicksburg last advanced to the state semifinals in 1996, when Quentin Smith led the Gators into the semifinal game against Lanier.

Since then, Vicksburg has reached the satellite game three times.