Playing against Warren Central brings out the best in Vicksburg High center Taylor Ammons. And this time, her teammates joined in to beat the ninth-ranked Lady Vikes for the second time in two meetings this season.

Ammons had eight points and nine rebounds in the first 11 minutes and that show of power sparked the Missy Gators (8-3, 1-0) to a 56-47 victory in the Division 3-5A opener for both teams. Both of Warren Central’s (9-2, 0-1) losses this season have come against their crosstown rivals.

&#8220This game is up there with our best and the first half was definitely our best,” Ammons said as the Missy Gators used a 22-11 first half rebounding edge to build a stunning 18-point lead, 33-15, at halftime.

&#8220Vicksburg outhustled us. They did a great job on the boards and we didn’t block out,” WC coach Donny Fuller said.

&#8220The rebounds were a key. And then we ran the floor well,” added VHS coach Barbara Hartzog of her team’s 37-21 final rebounding advantage. &#8220Our thing today was that we had everything to gain and nothing to lose.”

Besides the rebounding, the Missy Gators defended 2006 Vicksburg Post Player of the Year Sha’Kayla Caples by double-teaming her with the 6-foot Ammons and the 5-foot-10 Rachel Jenkins.

&#8220We wanted to take the strongest part of Caples’ game away and that’s her drive,” Ammons said. &#8220Rachel played in front of her and I was in back. That kept her off the boards.”

Caples had just three rebounds and six points at the half as WC went to the break down 18.

The Lady Vikes, who made just two shots and had nine turnovers in the second quarter, came out stronger in the third.

Brittany Willis began finding Caples open from 10 feet and the Lady Vikes sophomore hit four short jumpers that made it 39-29 with a minute left in the quarter. But like they would do for the remainder of the game, every time Warren Central would get something going, Vicksburg had an answer.

Kamiko Martin dropped in a 3-pointer to put VHS back up 13 at 42-29.

Two baskets by Willis got WC to within nine at 48-39 with 3:35 to play. But a minute later, the Lady Vikes lost Caples to fouls at the 2:30 mark.

&#8220She got two uneccessary ones in the first half,” Fuller said.

The Lady Vikes cut it to 50-43 but Ammons came back with a layup to keep the lead at nine with a minute to play.

Ammons finished a great overall game with 13 points, 12 rebounds, five steals and two assists.

Jenkins had 12 points and 10 rebounds while Martin had a team-high 15 points. Tiffany Williams chipped in nine points while point guard Keisha Collins dished out seven assists to go with her six points and four steals.

Caples ended with 16 points and nine rebounds. Willis matched Caples with 16 points but also had eight assists.