Warren Central survived an opening round game of the Vicksburg Warren Classic on Tuesday night, but Lady Vikes coach Donny Fuller saw few positives in the 56-50 win.

&#8220There were not a lot of positives out there,” Fuller said. &#8220My biggest worry is that we may have been listening to people tell us how good we are. It was the exact opposite of last year, how bad we were going to be, and we went and won 22 games.”

Other than for a strong first quarter and a great defensive stretch in the game’s final four minutes, there was plenty to make Fuller‘s face as red as his suit jacket.

&#8220We didn’t shoot the ball, we didn’t protect the ball and we didn’t get to where we were supposed to when we went to our trap. We were just dragging,” Fuller said.

Still with the game tied at 48, the Lady Vikes rediscovered their defense in the final four minutes.

Returning Vicksburg Post Player of the Year Sha’Kayla Caples came up with a steal that led to a fast break basket by Shantta Taylor to break the game’s last tie.

On Wingfield’s next trip, WC forward Kaci Harris drew a charging call with 3:34 left. That led to Brittany Willis sinking a pair of free throws for a 52-48 lead.

Then Caples forced April Bryant to double-dribble in the lane with 2:21 remaining. Fuller opted to put WC in a delay and they worked the clock down until Harris was fouled.

She missed the one-and-one, giving Wingfield an opening which Favian Cowards converted to make it 52-50.

Wingfield got the ball back with a chance to tie, but WC withstood four missed shots before ending the sequence with Harris’ rebound and foul. She then hit a pair of free throws to make it 54-50 with 15 seconds left.

&#8220It was a really tight game. But I’ve spent a lot of years learning how to take those charges. I had to be the one to do it,” Harris said.

The Lady Vikes are scheduled to play Port Gibson on Thursday at 7 p.m.

(B) WC 52, Natchez 44.

The Vikings nearly saw a 14-point fourth quarter lead vanish but managed to hold on for the victory in the first round of the Classic.

Shone Ester scored 18 points to lead WC. Cameron Logan had 17 to pace Natchez.

The Vikings will face Wingfield in Thursday’s semifinals.

(G) Port Gibson 47, Natchez 33.

Shavanta Edwards tossed in 14 points as the Wave toppled Natchez.

Three other Wave players scored six as Port Gibson used a 15-point third quarter to build a 35-25 lead and advance to play Warren Central Thursday night.

(B) Wingfield 65, P. Gibson 54.

Ray Pittman scored 14 points, while Tim Kendrick and Amanza Richardson scored 11 each to power Wingfield past Port Gibson.

The Waves had five players reach double digits led by Domanique Ratliff with 13 points. Karlos Wilson, Josh Coleman, Kadeem Fleming and Radeem Harvey all had 10.