[1/19/05]Warren Central’s Mario Luckett and Chico Hunter say they don’t have Pogo Sticks for legs.

They just acted like it Tuesday night.

Luckett and Hunter combined for 27 rebounds and 38 points in a 77-64 victory over Northwest Rankin (8-10).

“I knew if we came out and did what we did the last two game, no one can stand up to us,” said Hunter, who had a game-high 22 points and grabbed 13 rebounds. “If we do what coach tells us to do, we’ll be all right every time.”

Warren Central outrebounded the smaller Cougars 48-20 and used a 26-point third quarter to blow open a close game.

“Both teams shot the ball well, but they got a lot more second shots than we did,” Northwest Rankin coach Mike Crouther said.

Luckett added 16 points, while Shaun Walker netted 12 and Cody Grant poured in 11.

The Vikings (12-8) dominated the boards from the beginning, but poor shooting in the first half kept the Cougars in the game. WC led 34-30 at halftime.

“It took us a little while to get a feel for the game, knowing what they could do,” Hunter said.

Warren Central quickly upped the lead to 51-39 midway through the third quarter, then steadily built the lead to as many as 18 in the fourth quarter.

Northwest Rankin made a run late, cutting the lead to nine with three minutes to play, but again the Vikings pulled away.

WC is scheduled to host Vicksburg High at noon on Saturday.

(G) WC 71, NW Rankin 59

Warren Central jumped out to a 19-4 first-quarter lead, survived a cold-shooting third quarter, then pulled away from the Lady Cougars (12-8).

Cookie Johnson scored a game-high 21 points to lead the Lady Vikes (15-5). Shondalyn Rogers and Saleda Montgomery each scored nine in the win.

Warren Central led 39-24 at halftime, but managed only nine points in the third quarter as Northwest Rankin cut the lead to eight at the end of the third.

“We jumped out and got such a big lead, we started to relax,” WC coach Donny Fuller said. “We quit doing some of the things that got us the lead.”

Amanda Doyle and Brittany Banks added eight points apiece in the win.

Ashley Bilbro led Northwest with 17 points.

(B) F. Hill 87, Vicksburg 75

Forest Hill burst out to a 33-12 lead at the end of the first quarter, then held off a furious Vicksburg charge for a Division 6-5A win Tuesday night.

Tony Ammons led the Gators with 15 points and Sederick Williams scored 14 in the loss.

Forest Hill lef 33-12 at the end of the first quarter. Over the next three quarter, Vicksburg outscored the Rebels 63-54.

Kevin Sims scored 35 points to lead Forest Hill.

(G) F. Hill 64, Vicksburg 49

Rachel Jenkins scored a team-high 11 points and Tiffany Williams netted 10 in the Missy Gators’ loss.

Vicksburg trailed 20-9 after the first quarter and could not mount a comeback.

Vicksburg’s boys and girls are scheduled to play again on Saturday at archrival Warren Central at noon.