Kelsey Howard did his best Jonathan Phelps impersonation Friday night for the Vicksburg Gators.

Howard, a junior guard, took command in the Gators’ Division 3-4A game with visiting Canton by knocking down 14 of his 18 shot attempts to score a game-best 33 points in a 68-54 win.

“That’s the first time I’ve ever scored that many,” a stunned, Howard said afterwards. Howard made it look easy, becoming the focal point of the Vicksburg offense, which was again without its top player, sophomore forward Mychal Ammons.

“I’m just trying to hold things together for us until Mike gets back,” Howard said. “It’s been very difficult without him, because he’s such a key factor for our team.”

Vicksburg coach Dellie C. Robinson, was glad to see Howard step up.

“We’ve been struggling to score and tonight, we just got the ball to Kelsey. He looked like the new Phelps out there,” Robinson said in reference to the two-time Vicksburg Post Player of the Year who is now a freshman at Okaloosa-Walton College.

“I got the pull-up shot from Phelps,” Howard grinned. “I was just feeling it.”

Howard felt right on five of his shots in the third quarter, including a running 19-footer at the horn that gave Vicksburg (5-3, 2-2) a 48-35 lead going into the fourth. Canton would close back to within 10 until a 3-pointer by Howard put the lead back to 13 at 53-40.

A minute later, Howard hit his second trey of the quarter to make it 57-42 and the Gators were able to cruise home. Howard also had nine rebounds and five assists. Vicksburg led 16-15 after one quarter but then turned it on with a 20-6 second quarter as Canton made just one of 12 shots. Roosevelt Harris had eight of his 10 points in the first half as VHS led, 36-21.

Teroski Robinson paced Canton with 16 points and DeMarcus Lewis had 15.

Vicksburg girls beat Canton, 40-37

Donyeah Mayfield swiped a steal with 7.4 seconds left and then hit two free throws to seal the Missy Gators’ division win. Before Mayfield’s two makes, the Missy Gators (4-4, 2-2) were just 2-of-11 from the free throw line.

Kamiko Martin had 15 points to lead Vicksburg and Alexus Stirgus had 11. Diamond paced Canton with 19. The Missy Gators will return to action on Dec. 29 against Moss Point at 4:30 at Raymond.

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Contact Jeff Byrd at jbyrd@vicksburgpost.com.