Saleda Montgomery is the quarterback, in charge of breaking opponents’ presses any way she can, and running the Warren Central offense.

Brittany Banks is the shooter, the one the Lady Vikes, err, bank on to take pressure of the powerful 1-2 inside punch of Cookie Johnson and Carla Latham.

Together they form a formidable tandem that has Warren Central (24-8) back in the Mississippi Coliseum for the Class 5A state tournament. The Lady Vikes tip off tournament play tonight at 6:30 against Clinton.

“We’ve been playing ball on the same teams since I was 10,” Montgomery said of Banks. “I know exactly what she is going to do and she knows exactly what I am going to do.”

The duo began playing together in the YMCA youth leagues, then played on the same Amateur Athletic Union teams before joining forces for the Lady Vikes.

The two completed their third varsity season and will be making a second straight trip to the Coliseum.

“Last year it was like we couldn’t believe we were there,” said Banks of the trip to Jackson a season ago that ended with a first-round loss to Murrah. “This time around, I think we have a feel for it and hopefully it will turn out differently.”

It will start with the opponent as Clinton enters the game as the second seed from the North. The Lady Arrows lost to Tupelo in the North State championship game.

Clinton and Warren Central have met once this season, with the Lady Arrows taking home a 66-65 overtime win. In that game, Warren Central had three shots inside the last 20 seconds of overtime, and also missed a pair of key free throws in regulation that allowed the Lady Arrows to hang close.

“We had an open layup that just didn’t go down,” Warren Central coach Donny Fuller said. “We expect them to hi-low us. They are one of the bigger teams we will face.”

Clinton features three players that are 6-feet or taller, while the Lady Vikes do not have a single player over 6-feet.

The Lady Arrows have been without leading scorer Miranda Anderson for the entire season. The sleek shooting guard injured her knee in preseason.

Katorrah Lewis paces the Lady Arrows’ scoring.

“(Anderson) was gone when we played them the first time,” Fuller said. “Without her, though, Lewis has really stepped up and the rest of the team has followed.”

Clinton and Warren Central both reached the Coliseum a season ago, and both bowed out in the first round.

Montgomery and Banks will face an even tougher challenge with the expanded court length. The Coliseum floor is about 10 feet longer than most high school gym floors.

“We felt like last year we were the underdogs, but this year is different. We have a lot of confidence and we are prepared,” Montgomery said. “We’re ready.”