A busy day of basketball to celebrate Martin Luther King Day is scheduled today in two locations in the Jackson metro area and the Vicksburg Gators are among the participants.

Vicksburg (13-4) will play defending Class 5A champion Provine (14-3) at 2 p.m. at Lanier High School. Hinds AHS (16-2) faced Jackson Prep (13-7) at 11 a.m. at Wood Coliseum on the Mississippi College campus in Clinton. The two games are part of 14 games at the two sites.

Vicksburg coach Dellie C. Robinson was glad to his Gators get a chance to play in the MLK Day games. The Gators did not participate in last year’s games.

“Provine is an exceptional team and we’re glad to have a chance to play them. We just need to go into the game with the right mindset,” Robinson said.

Provine has two 6-foot-6 players inside in sophomore Jalen Courtney and senior Emery Kelly, but the Rams rely a lot on their perimeter game.

Vicksburg has won two straight since getting 6-foot-5 sophomore sensation Mychal Ammons back from an ankle injury. Ammons helped the club to Division 3-4A wins last week over Ridgeland (45-42) and Canton (64-53).

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Contact Jeff Byrd atjbyrd@vicksburgpost.com.