Vicksburg awaits Provine in finals

Published 12:00 am Friday, November 12, 2004

Vicksburg’s Sedrick Williams, center, goes up for a shot over Port Gibson’s Jordan Shorter (12) and Johnnie Smith (44) during Thursday’s game. (Jon GiffinThe Vicksburg Post)

[11/12/04]Sedrick Williams darted across the floor and intercepted a pass. He then shot downcourt in a flash, rose up and slammed the ball.

The move, which tied the game at 18, electrified the crowd and gave the Vicksburg Gators their first pulse of the game. Once they made their next bucket, they never trailed the rest of the night on the way to a 67-57 win over Port Gibson in the second round of the Coca-Cola Classic on Thursday. The win earned a trip for the Gators to Saturday’s championship game, where they’ll meet Provine at 2:30 p.m. at WC.

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Williams scored a game-high 21 points and added eight rebounds, six assists and five steals for the Gators (3-0). Brandon Harper chipped in 19 points, 15 rebounds and four blocks. The two combined for a steady inside-outside attack that was too much for the Blue Waves.

“They were huge,” VHS coach Dellie C. Robinson said. “Those are our best two players, Brandon and Sedrick. If they don’t do it for us, we’re going to struggle.”

Much of the game was a defensive battle. Neither team shot well from the outside both sides shot below 40 percent.

The Gators and Blue Waves also missed their free throws. Port Gibson hit only 13 of 30 (.433), while Vicksburg made 19 of 35 (.543).

“They just outhustled us,” Port Gibson coach Kim Windom said. “We missed free throws and that really hurt us.”

Harper said Robinson made it known that free throws would be worked on heavily during the next practice.

“He already told us,” Harper said. “We’re most definitely going to be shooting tomorrow.”

Port Gibson led 15-14 after the first quarter behind Johnnie Smith’s post play from the bench. Smith scored 15 of his 21 points in the first half to lead the Blue Waves.

But Williams’ dunk tied it at 18 in the second quarter as the Gators slowly began to pull away. VHS led 31-27 at halftime and outscored Port Gibson 15-10 in the third quarter for a secure 46-37 lead.

(G) Vicksburg 60, Port Gibson 52

Vicksburg built a huge first-half lead, then held off a wild Port Gibson run in the fourth quarter to win in the second round of the Coca-Cola Classic.

Kristin Ellis led three Missy Gators in double figures with 14 points, while Rachel Jenkins netted 13 and Tiffany Williams scored 10 in the victory.

Vicksburg led 32-11 at halftime and kept a double-digit lead through most of the second half.

Amina Palmer scored 19 for Port Gibson and Nakia Dotson sdded 10 points in the loss.

(G) PCA 58, Cham.-Hunt 7

Porters Chapel held a 25-0 lead at the end of the first quarter and held Chamberlain-Hunt scoreless for two quarters in a runaway Thursday night.

Annie Beaugh scored a game-high 23 points and Lauren Johnson netted 16 in the victory.

(B) Cham.-Hunt 72, PCA 45

Joseph Porter scored 28 points and Keldric Scott added 19 as the Raiders blasted Porters Chapel (0-1).

Hayden Hales scored a team-high 20 points to pace Porters Chapel.

Chamberlain-Hunt improved to 4-0 on the season.