While football season hits the back stretch, it means basketball season is brewing.

Warren Central’s girls got an early jump on things Monday as the Lady Vikes began practicing at 12:01 a.m., the first possible time public schools in Mississippi can begin practicing.

Warren Central coach Donny Fuller, whose team reached the Class 5A state semifinals a season ago, said he began hosting a midnight madness last year.

&#8221We wanted to be the first ones practicing and the last ones to play. We came close,“ Fuller said. &#8221It’s something our kids really enjoy.“

Across town at Vicksburg, coach Dellie C. Robinson will try to guide his Gators back to the state playoffs. Vicksburg reached the South State Tournament in February.

&#8221It’s going to be a challenge,“ Robinson said of his team’s chances of returning to the state playoffs. &#8221The district is better. We know what Warren Central is going to have and Madison Central should be the team to beat.“

The Gators and WC were moved to the North in the latest round of re-districting.

Both coaches will be starting the season with some fresh faces.

Robinson lost the team’s two leading scorers in Edwin Gaskin and Sedrick Williams.

In addition, three players who will see plenty of floor time are on the football team. Since the football season was backed up a week because of Hurricane Katrina, the football players will be even more delayed getting to the court.

Warren Central lost its top six starters, including University of New Orleans signees Cookie Johnson and Shondalyn Rogers.

&#8221This year will be more of a teaching year,“ Fuller said. &#8221You can tell a group of seniors how to run something and they’ll do it.“