The Division 4-6A girls race got a lot tighter Tuesday night with Warren Central defending its home court with a 57-51 win over Clinton.

The Lady Vikes moved to just a game out of first place with the victory while also knocking Clinton out of the top spot. Vicksburg now leads the division at 3-2 followed by Clinton (2-2), Greenville-Weston (2-2) and Warren Central (2-3). WC (16-6) hosts Greenville-Weston Friday while Clinton (14-8) heads to Vicksburg.

Warren Central got a key victory behind big efforts from Ricille Davis and Michelle Jones in the fourth quarter. Jones swiped three steals and converted them into five straight free throws during the game’s crucial stretch.

“I had No. 21 (Erika Robinson) and they kept giving her the ball and then she would drop it and I’d get it,” Jones said. Each time Jones was fouled going to the basket.

Down 43-42, Jones hit the back end of a two-shot foul with 4:53 left to tie the game at 43. After her second steal, she made two more free throws at the 4:27 mark to give WC the lead for good. Her third steal and two more free throws gave WC a 49-45 edge with 3:15 left.

“The free throws brought us back. Coach (Jackie Martin-Glass) has been getting on me about making my free throws,” said Jones, who had nine of her 14 points along with three rebounds and three steals in the fourth quarter.

Davis, meanwhile, was a consistent force from the start and finished with a game-best 26 points, eight rebounds and five steals.

First-year coach Martin-Glass said the Lady Vikes now have a simple goal on offense — get the ball to Davis.

“A couple of weeks ago, we made the decision that we had get the ball to Ricille more. And that’s what we done these last few games. Our goal has been to take control of the game with good plays,” Martin-Glass said.

Those good plays resulted in an 18-8 lead after one

quarter as Davis dropped in 12 points. It was 29-21 at the half and WC still had a 10-point lead at 33-23 when Clinton charged back behind four turnovers and a handful of missed WC shots.

“I knew Clinton would make a run. They got the lead but we were able to take it back,” Martin-Glass said.

Clinton coach Felicia Lofton said her team went cold at the wrong time. Anotekia Williams’ 3-pointer with 2:56 left that made it 49-48 was the only Lady Arrow basket in a five-minute stretch.

“We just had a lack of focus there in the fourth quarter with some careless turnovers,” Lofton said.

A Jones’ putback with 1:34 left made it 51-48. Deshaundra Eatmon then made three free throws over the next 30 seconds to hand WC a 54-48 lead.

Robinson led Clinton with 16 and Williams had 13.

(B) Clinton 50, WC 41

The Vikings had a 24-15 lead in the second quarter but Clinton reeled off 17 straight points over an eight-minute stretch that lasted into the third quarter. The Arrows went on to clinch a sweep in the series and avoid a potential tie for last in Division 4-6A with the Vikings (3-21, 0-4).

Warren Central made just six of 21 shots in the second half and also had nine turnovers. Clinton (9-13, 2-2) got 16 points from Dominic Davis and 13 from Jonathan Alexander.

The Vikings got to within four at 44-40 with 1:30 left after two free throws from Corey Davis. Clinton’s Tremaine Young then hit two free throws and a made a layup in the final minute to seal it for the Arrows.

B.J. Williams’ 13 points and six rebounds paced WC. Eric Hall had 10 points and six boards while Jeremy Harper had six points and five assists.

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Contact Jeff Byrd at jbyrd@vicksburgpost.com