RAYMOND — Forest’s old-school style proved too hard for Vicksburg to overcome in the final game of the Ranger Round-up on Friday night.

The Bearcats’ pound-the-paint attack and good defense of the rim kept the Gators in check in taking the title, 41-38. Vicksburg (12-5) made just 16 of 51 shots against the defending Class 3A champions.

“We got good shots. We just couldn’t knock them down,” VHS coach Dellie C. Robinson said. “They played good defense, but there were three missed goal-tending calls that could’ve made a big difference in the game.”

Two of the subjective plays came in the key sequence of the game. Up one point at 33-32, Jonathan Phelps went to the rim twice and was denied. Mychal Ammons rebounded one of the misses but was short on a 8-foot follow up.

Forest (8-3) turned the misses into layups on the other end, including a dunk by Vincente Parker with 2 minutes and 54 seconds left to give the Bearcats a 38-33 lead.

A 3-pointer by Vicksburg’s Jaybri Williams got the Gators back to within two at 40-38 with 1:27 left. A missed one-and-one by Forest’s Ladavius Williams gave VHS a chance for the tie with 43 seconds to go.

After a time out with 26 seconds left, the Gators worked the ball to Maurice Williams, who was fouled on his cut to the basket. Williams then missed both free throw attempts with 13.3 seconds left.

Forest’s Williams then made one of two shots, setting up the Gators last chance with Phelps coming up short on a potential tying 3-pointer with 1.5 seconds left.

“Our guys can jump and that makes them pretty good on defense,” Forest coach Roy Pinkston said.

Phelps was held to just nine points after scoring 27 the night before in a win over Clinton. Kelsey Howard and Jaybri Williams had eight apiece.

Parker led Forest with 14 points.

The game was tight from the start with the biggest lead being just three points for either team until the fourth quarter.

(B) Canton 69, WC 54

Toroski Robinson dropped in eight, 3-pointers to sink Warren Central in the consolation final at the Ranger Round-up.

Robinson finished with 28 points. Javarea Blackmon had 18.

WC (5-12) got 16 from Jeremye Smith and nine each from Chris Hood and Martez Carroll. Dino Harris, the Vikings’ leading scorer, was held to one point.

(G) Tupelo 50, Vicksburg 42

The Missy Gators got to within four points in the final minute, but two layups by the Golden Waves stopped the rally.

Vicksburg (7-10) was led by All-Tournament pick in center Taylor Ammons, who tossed in a game-best 22 points.

Teneshia Trice led Tupelo with 16 points and Amber Jackson had 13.

(B) St. Al 63, Dexter 62

Alex Lanier had a huge night, scoring a game-high 33 points and snagging 10 rebounds as the Flashes (4-11) beat Dexter at the Wesson Tournament on Friday night.

Duffy Lowell added 12 points and the Flashes led throughout. St. Al took a 13-4 lead at the end of the first quarter, and led 30-29 at halftime.

(G) St. Al 57, Dexter 42

Tori Hines led four Lady Flashes (3-11) in double figures with 20 points in a Wesson Tournament victory over Dexter.

Sara Howington scored 14 points, Elizabeth Mazzanti netted 12 and Carlye Smith scored 11 in the victory.

The Lady Flashes led by just two points going into the fourth quarter, but outscored Dexter 21-8 in the final frame to take the 15-point victory.