JACKSON — To beat Lanier in Vicksburg is one thing, but to beat the Bulldogs on Maple Street in Jackson is another.

Vicksburg, though, did just that. Save for an anxious final 11 seconds, the Gators put a defensive clamp on the eight-time state champion Bulldogs in their own building to pull an eye-opening 65-63 decision Tuesday night.

Vicksburg (21-5, 9-2) takes over first place in Division 3-4A and can claim the regular season divisional title and the top seed in next month’s tournament if it wins the last three divisional games. Lanier, the state’s No. 2 ranked team, fell to 23-4 and is 10-2 in the division, but the Bulldogs have been swept by the unranked Gators.

“We knew it would be tough here at Lanier, but this was a great team effort,” VHS senior guard Jonathan Phelps said.

Phelps, who had 37 in the first meeting, struggled this time against the Bulldogs’ defense. He forced shots, couldn’t make a free throw, and had some puzzling turnovers. Still, he came up big in the second half, making plays in other areas.

“I just had to fight through the better defense they were playing against me. And I got the ball to the guys that made plays. Kelsey (Howard) stepped up and made a big shot. Jaybri (Williams) stepped up. Maurice (Williams) stepped up, Mike (Mychal Ammons) stepped up,” Phelps said.

“The first half was the first half. The second half is what counted,” he added.

It was in the second half where the Gators came back from an 11-point deficit to take control of the game in the fourth quarter. They did it on defense, holding Lanier to just 8-of-30 shooting and eight turnovers in the second half.

“Ain’t no question about it, our defense was great,” VHS coach Dellie C. Robinson said. “This is huge. To beat Lanier two times in a row, in their building… The kids played super. We got position on them with our rebounding. Of course, we could’ve hit some free throws there to put it away. That’s something we’ve still got to improve on. We didn’t finish as well as I would’ve liked.”

“We just played as a team,” Jaybri Williams said. “We were able to run fresh bodies at them. And our film work paid off with our better rebounding.”

It was Willams’ 3-pointer with 1:35 left in the third quarter that capped a 17-4 run to turn a 40-29 deficit into the Gators’ first lead of the game at 46-44.

Phelps’ baseline basket 30 seconds later made sure Vicksburg kept the lead going into the fourth quarter.

Lanier, though, regained the lead at 54-50 with 4:40 to play on a 3-pointer by Marcellis Hansberry.

Phelps tied it at 55 powering in a crazy fade with 3:25 left. The free throw was his first make of the game after five straight misses. He then spotted up Howard from the corner for a 3-pointer and a 58-57 lead with 2:12 to play. It was one of seven assists for Phelps.

Two free throws by John Qualls put the Gators ahead for good with 1:35 left. Phelps made two more at the 1:01 mark for a three-point lead.

The Bulldogs hurt themselves as Hansberry missed two free throws and Chris Lindsey bricked two 3-point attempts. Vicksburg appeared set to cruise home up six at 65-59 with 17 seconds left.

Hansberry, however, hit a 3-pointer from the key and four straight Gator misses from the line gave Lanier one last shot with 1.3 seconds left.

Lanier’s Reginald Peals got fouled chasing down the last Gator free throw miss. He was awarded two shots at the line. He made the first to make it 65-63.

Lanier coach Thomas Billups, a former Vicksburg High assistant coach, then called timeout to set up the last play. He wanted Peals to deliberately miss and then try to get a putback off an offensive rebound. Peals was short on the free throw, but the carom went too far wide and the Bulldogs had no shot.

Phelps finished with 15 points, six rebounds and five steals to lead the Gators. Howard had 14 points and six boards. Ammons powered in 13 points and 10 rebounds, though, he did go just 1-of-6 from the line. Williams had 13 points, four rebounds and four assists while Qualls had seven points and nine rebounds.

Hansberry led Lanier with 16 points and five assists. Lindsey and Thurley Love had 10 points each.

(G) Lanier 51, Vicksburg 47

De’Arra Travis scored 16 second-half points to rally the Lady Bulldogs from a 35-28 third-quarter deficit. Travis finished with 22 points and her 3-point play snapped a 39-39 tie early in the fourth quarter to put Lanier ahead to stay. Dominique Brothern had 16 points.

Taylor Ammons led the Missy Gators (9-17, 2-9) with 13 points while Kamiko Martin had 12 and Donyeah Mayfield had 10.