Mario Luckett added another weapon to an already dangerous Warren Central basketball team.

He scored 10 points in his first game of the season and the Vikings (6-5) hammered archrival Vicksburg for the second time in nine days, 69-44. Warren Central defeated the Gators by 13 points in the consolation game of the Warren Central Classic on Dec. 2.

&#8220We wanted to play zone, but they forced our hands to play man,” Vicksburg coach Dellie C. Robinson said. &#8220We knew we could have trouble playing man because they have athletes. They beat us in every phase of the game.”

Andre Thomas led all scorers with 16 points on 8 of 9 shooting. Jula Pugh added 11 and Shone Ester scored 10. Andy Anderton netted eight as the Vikings had balanced scoring across the board.

&#8220When we stay within what we do, everyone will rotate around and get their hands on the ball,” WC coach Jesse Johnson said. &#8220That will allow everybody and anybody to score. It does us no good to have one guy score 25 and the next highest scorer have four.”

Luckett, who missed the first 10 games because of a team penalty, scored seven points in the first half as the Vikings opened a 29-17 halftime lead.

The Vikings exploded in the third quarter for 23 points and Ester’s steal and hoop as the buzzer sounded to end the third quarter increased WC’s lead to 52-31.

The Gators were led by an 11-point effort from Jonathan Phelps and a 10 point afternoon from Tony Ammons. Vicksburg’s most dangerous scorer, Brandon Harper, was held to five points. He missed all eight of his field goal attempts.

&#8220We knew that he wanted to score points,” Johnson said. &#8220Every time he touched the ball, we double teamed him.”

Phelps was held to three points in the first half before scoring eight in the second.

The Vikings began clearing the bench with about 2 1/2 minutes to play in the fourth quarter and the team holding a 65-41 advantage.

The win also gives the Vikings a quick leg up in the race for the Division 3-5A championship with a 1-0 division record.

&#8220We take our time and do what the coach tells us,” Thomas said. &#8220We rotate the ball well and go from there.”