Short-handed Vikings fall to Jefferson County in OT

Published 12:00 am Tuesday, November 11, 2003

[11/11/03[Warren Central went basket for basket with Jefferson County all game long.

But the Tigers made the final basket in overtime for a 72-70 win in the first round of the Coca-Cola Classic at Warren Central on Monday night.

“If we had all our players, we could have taken this game with ease,” said WC coach Jesse Johnson, whose team is playing without several players who are on the football team.

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Anthony Lewis gave WC a 68-66 lead in overtime before fouling out with 2 minutes, 30 seconds remaining. He finished with 17 points and 6 rebounds.

With Jefferson’s top player fouled out as well, Chris Carradine took over for the Tigers.

Carradine scored five of his game-high 20 points in just under a minute to give the Tigers a 71-68 lead with 48.8 seconds left on the clock.

An inside basket by Brian Phelps brought it closer for the Vikings with 37 seconds remaining, but they couldn’t capitalize on Seddrick Williams’ steal soon after and WC was forced to foul.

The Tigers’ Eddie Davenport hit a free throw with 7 seconds remaining to give Jefferson the 72-70 lead.

Warren Central inbounded and got the ball downcourt before center Andy Anderton had the ball knocked from his hands out of bounds with 2.5 seconds left.

Johnson called for a timeout to set up the inbounds play. Anderton got the pass and took a 10-foot jump shot that missed as the buzzer sounded.

“It was a heck of a game,” Jefferson County coach Marcus Walton said. “Both teams had to fight to the end and work hard.”

The biggest lead by either team was only seven points, held by Warren Central early in the third quarter. But most of the way the teams stayed within three points of each other. It was tied at 14 after the first quarter. Jefferson led 30-29 at the half and WC led 49-48 after three.

The momentum seemed to swing to the Vikings when the Tigers’ top scoring threat Josh Nicholas fouled out late in the fourth quarter. Nicholas had been leading his team with 16 points.

“That was real tough because we run a lot of things through him,” Walton said. “He does a lot for us. He shoots, rebounds, passes. He’s like a coach on the floor.”

The Vikings took advantage and pulled to a 58-55 lead when Lewis scooped in a layup. Jefferson then clawed back to tie at 60, 62 and 64.

Phelps and Rashaun Walker each hit a free throw in successive possessions to give WC a 66-64 lead with 9.8 seconds left.

When Walker’s second free throw missed, a scramble for the rebound ensued. Quinton Keys came up with the ball for Jefferson and passed it downcourt to Marcus Wilson who was waiting under the goal for the game-tying basket as time expired in the fourth quarter.

(G) WC 80, Jefferson County23

Warren Central led 26-3 after the first quarter and was on cruise control the rest of the way.

“I told the kids before the game we would come out and set the tone early,” WC coach Donny Fuller said. “We did that with the press and got some easy baskets.”

With a 48-11 lead at halftime, Fuller was able to rest his starters in the second half.

“We came out a little more prepared than we did on Saturday,” WC center Ebon Williams said. “We started off aggressive and came ready to play.”

Williams led four Lady Vikes in double figures with 12 points and seven rebounds. Cookie Johnson and Ashley Vinzant each had 11 points and Saleda Montgomery added 10.

(B) Forest Hill 49, P. Gibson 42

Forest Hill held off a late comeback attempt by Port Gibson to escape with a win.

Port Gibson outscored Forest Hill 15-9 in the final quarter, but the Rebels were able to milk the clock at the end.

Jekel Smith scored eight points in the losing effort.

(G) Forest Hill 55, P. Gibson 40

Tanika Martin scored 11 of her team-high 13 points in the first quarter as Forest Hill jumped out to a 22-13 lead.

The Lady Rebels built the advantage to 33-20 by halftime and held on for the win.

Amina Palmer scored 18 points for Port Gibson.