Williams’ huge fourth quarter gives Vicksburg blowout victory|[11/15/06]

Published 12:00 am Wednesday, November 15, 2006

In a ugly game, Vicksburg’s Maurice Williams had one beautiful quarter.

The Gator sophomore forward scored Vicksburg’s last 11 points in a 50-29 rout of Pearl Tuesday night at VHS. Williams made all five of his shots from the field and was 5-of-6 from line in a 16-point fourth quarter.

&#8220I got my stroke going in the fourth quarter,” Williams said. &#8220Pearl started cheating their defense to one side and that gave me some space to work in.”

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Williams’ effort helped make up for an otherwise brutal offensive game for both teams. Neither club shot better than 33 percent from the field and they combined for 47 turnovers, 26 of which belonged to the Gators.

&#8220That was ugly,” VHS coach Dellie C. Robinson said. &#8220In our last game it was free throws, but tonight, we didn’t shoot the ball well and we had 26 turnovers. We have got to work on protecting the ball.”

Vicksburg (3-1) took control in the first quarter, forcing seven straight Pirate turnovers during the final five minutes of the period. The Gators converted the miscues into a 15-4 lead.

The Gators, however, went cold in the second quarter, and did not score a point until the 3 minute, 48 second mark when Jonathan Phelps sank a pair of free throws.

Pearl continued to hang around in the third quarter, putting together a 6-0 run to start the second half to make it 22-13. They got it to seven at 27-20 following a 3-pointer by Regious Stubbs, but Phelps answered with two baskets to make it 32-20 heading into the fourth quarter.

Williams ended with 17 points and eight rebounds. Phelps chipped in 13 points to go with eight steals and six assists. John Qualls had nine points, seven rebounds and five steals.

(G) Vicksburg 52, Pearl 35.

The unbeaten Missy Gators (4-0) held Pearl to just two points in the third quarter to pull away from a tight game in the first half.

Vicksburg led just 28-24 at the half but outscored the Lady Pirates 9-2 in the third to take a 37-26 lead.

Tiffany Williams led Vicksburg with 14 points while Taylor Ammons and Keisha Collins had 13 apiece.

Brittany Carr led Pearl with 13.