One of Warren County’s high school basketball teams moved a step closer to a state title Friday night, while another saw its championship dreams dashed.

The Vicksburg Gators beat the Tupelo Golden Wave 77-72 in overtime in the first round of the Mississippi High School Activities Association Class 6A North State boys tournament. The Gators will host the Starkville Yellow Jackets in the North State championship game tonight at 7. VHS has also clinched a spot in next week’s Class 6A state tournament in Jackson.

It’s the third time in four seasons the Gators have reached the state tournament, with their last championship win in 2003.

“Other than winning the state championship (in 2003),” VHS coach Dellie C. Robinson said, “this is the best win of my life.”

Meanwhile, in Benton, Porters Chapel Academy’s run in the Mississippi Association of Independent Schools Class A boys state tournament came to an end.

Natchez’s Trinity Episcopal defeated the Eagles 68-48 in the semifinals at Benton Academy.

PCA (16-10) entered the tournament as a No. 4 seed and made its deepest run ever. The furthest it had ever advanced was to the second round, at its last state tournament appearance in 2005.

Despite Friday night’s loss, the Eagles’ season is not over. They can advance to next week’s MAIS Overall tournament in Clinton by beating Heidelberg Academy in a consolation game tonight at 6.

Heidelberg defeated PCA in the consolation game of the South Central tournament last week.