[12/30/03]BRANDON Mike Coleman couldn’t have asked for much more from his team.

The Missy Gators (11-6) had five players score in double figures. They completed an all-around effort to defeat McLaurin 64-45 for a 2-1, fifth-place in the Northwest Rankin Holiday Classic.

All that in Coleman’s 300th career victory.

“It feels good to get,” said Coleman, who coached at Utica and Raymond before coming to Vicksburg five seasons ago. “It just means I’ve been in it a while, means I’m starting to get old.”

“It’s an accomplishment. I hope to get many more. I hope I get number 400 and 500 at Vicksburg.”

Tiffany Hubbard led five Missy Gators in double figures with 16, while Erica Woodson scored 13 and Cre’Tarsha Taylor added 12. Kristin Ellis poured in 12 points and Kendra Sims netted 11.

Shayla McLin and Felicia Thomas combined for 37 of McLaurin’s points, but the Missy Gators switched to a triangle-and-two defense to stop them late in the second half. Leading by seven, VHS’ defensive change spurred an 11-0 run to put the game out of reach.

Vicksburg lost to Mendenhall in the first round, so fifth was the highest it could finish.

“I thought if we beat Mendenhall we’d have a chance to be in the finals,” Coleman said. “I was kind of disappointed as far as that goes, but we bounced back and played two good games after that.”