[1/28/04]Sedrick Williams cracked 20 points for the third straight game to lead Vicksburg (9-13, 2-3 Division 6-5A) to a 51-46 win over Natchez, the Gators’ second straight division win.

Despite intense pressure late in the game to keep the ball out of Williams’ hands, the senior scored eight of his game-high 23 points in the fourth quarter.

“Coming down the stretch, they tried their best to keep the ball out his hands,” VHS coach Dellie Robinson said.

With a tenacious full-court press, the Bulldogs led a charge that got them back in the game, but they fell just short.

Vicksburg led 45-33 with 2 minutes, 46 seconds remaining, but Natchez (6-10, 1-4) went on a 13-3 run sparked by turnovers from the press.

“Ballhandling is suspect on our part,” Robinson said. “And everybody knows that our ballhandling is suspect. We struggle with that. We’ve been fortunate the last two nights to find a way to win basketball games.”

Natchez guard Tryon Wilson scored seven points during the run, including a fast-break layup that cut Vicksburg’s lead to 48-46 with a minute left. The Gators were able to milk the clock, forcing the Bulldogs to foul and send them to the free-throw line.

“We weren’t playing team ball at all,” said Natchez forward Marvin Stampley, who finished with six points and a team-high seven rebounds. “We tried to get in at the end, but we just couldn’t get there.”

(G) Vicksburg 61, Natchez 58

The Missy Gators broke out their new “53” press defense in the fourth quarter and ended a 4-game losing streak.

Vicksburg’s inside duo of Tiffany Hubbard and Kristin Ellis each scored eight points in the fourth quarter, benefiting from fast breaks off turnovers.

The loss puts Natchez (6-13, 1-4) alone in last place in the division, while Vicksburg (13-9, 2-3) slides into third.

Down by five entering the final quarter, Vicksburg forced 10 turnovers and outscored Natchez 23-15. The Lady Dawgs committed 30 turnovers in the game, 19 in the second half.

“That’s a new press we’ve been working on,” VHS coach Mike Coleman said. “The only reason it’s named 53 is they wanted to name it after Tiffany’s number since she’s our only senior.”

Hubbard led the Missy Gators with 16 points, while Ellis scored 13 and Cre’Tarsha Taylor netted 10.

(B) W. Lincoln 55, St. Al 45

The Flashes (7-12, 5-3 Division 7-1A) hung with West Lincoln for 3 1/2 quarters, but a three-minute stretch in the fourth quarter doomed the visitiors.

Anthony Rector scored 16 points and Kyle Richards added 15, but West Lincoln outscored the Flashes 18-9 in the fourth for the victory.

West Lincoln took a 3-point lead with three minutes to play, then went on to hit 11-of-12 free throws to ice the game. The Flashes will be at Enterprise on Friday night.

(G) W. Lincoln 85, St. Al 36

Sarah Kerut scored 15 points and LaJuanna Thomas added 14, but West Lincoln proved too strong for the win.

The hosts led 39-18 at the break and never let up.

St. Al fell to 9-10 on the season and 4-4 in the division.

(G) WC 64, Bailey 48

Cookie Johnson scored a game-high 22 points and Carla Latham added 12 as the Lady Vikes (15-7) bombed Bailey, a Jackson school.

Tranyce Peoples added 10 points and the Lady Vikes erased a 31-29 halftime deficit. WC outscored Bailey 23-8 in the third quarter.

(B) Hinds AHS 67, Piney Woods 51

Mario Webb scored a game-high 22 points and dished out eight assists in the War Dawgs’ win.

Carl Carson netted 15 and Joseph White added 14 points and 10 rebounds for Hinds AHS.

Casey Robinson led Piney Woods with 11 points.

Hinds AHS took a 32-24 halftime lead.