JACKSON — No team in Mississippi has been able to beat the Meridian Wildcats this season.

Vicksburg gave it a shot, but the Gators did not have enough weapons to deny Meridian (29-2) its first state championship since 1978. The Wildcats were simply too sharp in Saturday night’s 62-47 win before 4,500 at the Mississippi Coliseum.

Vicksburg coach Dellie C. Robinson said Meridian’s experience losing in last year’s title game against Starkville was key.

“There’s a reason why no one in Mississippi was able to beat them this year,” Robinson said. “We came closer than anybody. Meridian had six seniors who played in this game last year. And tonight, their role players played better than ours. When they go to that 1-4 set with Rodney Hood at the top, you’re at their mercy if those wings can shoot it. You can’t go help because you’re too stretched out.”

Meridian’s offensive numbers told the story. The Wildcats shot 52 percent from the floor (21-of-41) and 95 percent (16-of-17) from the free throw line.

Hood said the free throws were a big turnaround from last year’s loss to Starkville.

“We missed 14 free throws last year,” said Hood, who finished with 24 points, including a perfect 10-for-10 effort from the line.

“We worked all day on free throws.”

The second big factor was the Wildcats’ defensive effort in the first half. They made Vicksburg (27-4) a one-dimensional team. If Mychal Ammons didn’t score, the Gators wouldn’t.

Meridian took away the baseline from Gator forward Josh Gaskin. In the first meeting back in December in a 61-53 Meridian win, Gaskin hurt the Wildcats with cuts to the basket. The result was four towering dunks and 15 points.

This time, Gaskin could not get to the basket because the 6-foot-6 Sydney Coleman played big by denying the shot. Add to that two quick fouls to Dominique Brown and the Gators lost two key offensive weapons.

“No question, that was big,” Robinson said. “They didn’t trap as much as they did the first time. They didn’t want Gaskin to get to the rim and then the two quick fouls by Dominique hurt a lot.”

Coleman said the Wildcats defensive plan worked. He had six blocks and six rebounds in the contest.

Gaskin was limited to four points.