Warren Central coach Donny Fuller knew it was coming.

After his undefeated team had ripped through the opposition for much of the early part of the season, he knew that his club would eventually get into an ugly game decided in the final two minutes.

That reckoning was Friday and the Lady Vikes were up to the task, beating Madison Central 35-32.

“I think a game like this helps us,” Fuller said. “We needed a tough game that we had to fight to get it done. We’ve had too many games that were over in the fourth.”

One of the reasons why the score was so low was the absence of superstar Sha’Kayla Caples, who was benched with foul trouble for most of the game. Another was the Jaguar triangle and two defense, which combines three defenders playing zone and the aforementioned two manning up on the perimeter.

The triangle and two defense is designed to disrupt a big-scoring backcourt and it worked beautifully. Caples was held to just 12 points in limited minutes and point guard Karnina Bunch scored only seven.

The pivotal play of the second half occurred early in the third quarter. Caples picked up a foul and showed her displeasure to the referees, who quickly hit her with a technical for her fourth of the contest.

Fuller was forced to bench her.

“She’s got to learn to keep her composure,” Fuller said. “She’s a four-year starter and she’s not supposed to lose her cool like that.”

Ricille Davis picked up the slack, scoring nine points, grabbing eight rebounds and blocking two shots.

The Jaguars (6-7) kept in striking distance for most of the contest and in the fourth, they made their move. Kelsey Simmons hit a pair of big jumpers to give Madison Central its only lead of the fourth.

But Warren Central’s Kryshna Howard had a big putback to tie the contest and Bunch swished a pair at the free throw line.

Madison Central tied the contest with 3:23 remaining as Fuller put Caples back in the game. She scored on a jumper out of the corner and after Deshaundra Eatmon hit one of two free throws, she converted a contorting layup on a nice feed from Bunch to put WC up 35-30 with 42.2 seconds to play.

Keishara Rouser scored on a putback for Madison Central with 8.2 seconds remaining, but the Lady Vikes were able to dribble out the clock. Lacy Thurman led Madison Central with eight points.

(B) Madison Cent. 73, WC 53

Madison Central outscored WC 55-24 in the second half to earn the win. Sam Walker scored 19 points to pace the Jaguars (5-7). Cory Davis scored 12 points and Dino Harris and Y’Tarrius Goldsberry added 11 apiece for WC (1-8).

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Contact at swilson@vicksburgpost.com