Needing momentum going into its most crucial week of the season, the Warren Central Lady Vikes rolled up a second straight blowout win Saturday at the Red Carpet Classic.

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The Lady Vikes (15-6) smashed visiting Brookhaven for the second straight year in the Classic. Deshaundra Eatmon fired in a game-best 21 points as WC won 54-32.

Tuesday, the Lady Vikes host Clinton and then get Greenville-Weston at home on Friday for a pair of huge division contests. WC is currently in last place in the four-team Division 4-6A with a 1-3 mark.

“We needed some momentum because we have a big week coming up,” WC coach Jackie Martin-Glass said. “In our last two games, we played hard and when we do that, we tend to control the game. We’ve played really well at home. Our struggles have been on the road, but we seem comfortable on our court.”

Eatmon, who got the Lady Vikes off to a good start with 11 first quarter points, said its time to play well.

“I had to pick it up,” Eatmon said. “We have a lot to prove to ourselves in this next week with some big division games.”

Brookhaven (7-16) made four 3-pointers in the first half but that was about all the Panthers could get against WC’s defense. The Lady Panthers made just 11-of-46 shots from the field for the game to finish at 24 percent.

Precious Patterson led Brookhaven with nine points, all off 3-pointers.

WC, meanwhile, made 14-of-24 (56 percent) shots in the first half to grab a 30-14 lead. The Lady Vikes made just one field goal in the third quarter but compensated for the misses by sinking eight free throws to extend the lead to 40-21.

Seven more points by Eatmon in the final quarter sealed it.

Ricille Davis had 10 points, six rebounds and four steals. Michelle Jones had eight points and nine rebounds while Sh’Qulla Neal had four points and five assists.

(B) Brookhaven 60,

Warren Central 47

The Vikings (3-20) trailed by 14 going into the fourth quarter but managed to make it interesting with 1:40 to go in Saturday’s final game of the Red Carpet Classic.

A driving layup by Eric Howard pulled the Vikings to within five points of Brookhaven at 51-46. The Panthers responded by getting two free throws from Rayjavion Stewart and a basket by Leo Garrett to hold off WC’s late charge.

Brookhaven (17-5) led 29-21 at the half and 43-29 after three quarters. Kristof Bates had 15 to lead the Panthers and Stewart added 11.

The Vikings were paced by Jeremy Harper with 18 and Eric Hall had 13.

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Contact Jeff Byrd at jbyrd@vicksburgpost.com