Happy to get out of Shannon with their season still alive, the Vicksburg Gators face another daunting challenge when they take on the Noxubee County Tigers, led by Mississippi State signee Shaunessy Smith.

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Thursday, 4 p.m. – Vicksburg vs. Noxubee Co., at Callaway

The 6-foot-6 senior forward is one of the state’s top scorers. He lit up highly-regarded Starkville for 41 points and also had a 42-point game in the Division 4-4A semifinals against West Point. He had 18 in one half as the Tigers (14-12) rolled past Clarksdale Tuesday night and into today’s Class 4A North State Tournament game against the Gators at Callaway, beginning at 4 p.m.

Vicksburg coach Dellie C. Robinson has seen Smith play firsthand and remembers a meeting his team had with Smith two summers ago at the Mississippi State camp.

“He’s an amazing player. I’ve seen him several times. The year before last we played against him at the Mississippi State camp. I think the key for us is to not to let him get going. New Hope was able to do that in the divisional final,” Robinson said.

Vicksburg senior guard Maurice Williams remembers Smith as being a big-time shooter.

“He can shoot the three, all you want. He’s not as strong inside as (Jontavious) Sutton is. His game is more outside,” Williams said in comparing Smith to Yazoo City’s Sutton, a 6-7 forward, who led the Indians past Vicksburg 43-34 last week and sent them to Shannon.

The Gators overcame the four-hour bus ride and then a hot-shooting Shannon club.

“They surprised us with their quickness and how well they could shoot in the first half,” Williams said. “All three guards were real quick.”

Vicksburg (20-9) trailed 18-10 after one quarter and 24-18 at the half.

The Gators held Shannon to just 15 points in the second half. Vicksburg advanced to the finals of the tournament last year at Oxford, falling to eventual state champion New Hope.

Ammons scored 18 points, his best showing in two weeks. He averaged just nine points a game in three subpar games in last week’s divisional tournament at Callaway.

Junior forward Kelsey Howard paces the Gators with nearly 17 points a game

Hinds meets Scott Central, the 2007 2A champions, at 8:30. Richton, the tournament host, opens play at 4 against defending state champ Newton.

The Port Gibson Blue Waves pulled out a 52-41 win Tuesday night at Bay St. Louis in a 4A South satellite game and will face Wayne County (25-2) today at 4 p.m. at South State tourney in Waynesboro.

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Contact Jeff Byrd at jbyrd@vicksburgpost.com.