MADISON — Blunders gathered like thunder from an oncoming storm. Soon, the Missy Gators’ chances at victory were shredded, and torn.

Vicksburg High missed 18 free throws, committed 28 turnovers and went 1-for-11 from 3-point range Tuesday night against Madison Central. The end result was a 61-56 loss, its second straight after a 2-0 start.

“The turnovers, we had as a team. We pushed the ball down the court good enough, but the shots weren’t falling,” said center Antoinette Mayfield, who had 14 rebounds, two blocked shots and four steals. “Free throws killed us. We didn’t make them. We did what we needed to to get fouled, then we didn’t hit the free throws.”

Cheyenne Stewart led Madison Central (2-2) with 18 points, and Tamara King added 12 points and seven rebounds.

Ama Arkoful had 23 points, four assists and four steals for Vicksburg, which played well in the first and third quarters but slumped in the second and fourth.

The Missy Gators outscored Madison Central 32-21 and shot 50 percent from the field in the odd-numbered periods. In the second and fourth, they shot just 20.7 percent (6-for-29) and were outscored 40-24.

Madison Central carried a one-point lead into the fourth quarter, took the lead for good with about four minutes to play, then held on down the stretch as Vicksburg missed a host of opportunities at the foul line. Vicksburg went 6-for-12 at the line in the fourth quarter and was unable to take advantage when two of Madison’s starters fouled out in the last two minutes.

“We’re doing what it takes to get to the free throw line and not finishing,” VHS coach Barbara Hartzog said. “If we made half the free throws, we wouldn’t have been in that situation.”