Vicksburg picked up its best win of the season by knocking off red-hot Greenville-Weston 72-65 Tuesday night.

The win vaults the Gators — last year’s Class 6A state finalists — into first place in Division 3-6A and avenged a blowout loss at Greenville-Weston in late December.

Greenville-Weston came to Vicksburg with a sparkling 17-1 record. They left with their second loss and fell to 2-1 in the division, a half game behind Vicksburg (9-8, 3-1).

The win also keeps the Gators unbeaten at home at 7-0. First-year Greenville-Weston coach Bruce Robinson, who was at Clinton for several years, knows how tough the Gators are at home.

“I haven’t won here in eight years,” Robinson said. “I felt we were lackluster. Then we got it going until a charge call there in the fourth quarter stopped us.”

A bigger problem for the Hornets was the standout play of Vicksburg’s Edward “Red” Davis. The sophomore point guard scored 13 of his game-best 31 points in the fourth quarter that included a perfect 9 for 9 effort from the free throw line in the final three minutes. He also had six assists and two steals.

“We had to get that win,” Davis said. “We spread them out and played good team ball.”

Vicksburg coach Dellie C. Robinson was proud of his point guard and his young team’s best game of the season.

“Red’s special,” Robinson said. “Best point guard I’ve had and he’s just a sophomore. No doubt about it, this was our best game. Tonight, they played us man (man-to-man defense) and we were able to spread them out. Up there, we were down eight when we tried to press them and they just started hitting layups.”

Robinson was pleased also with his post players, Tre’Darius Carter, Norman Price and Rashad Tucker.

“I thought our big men — Tree (Carter), Norman (Price) and Tucker — did what I needed from them. Greenville is so powerful in the paint, but Tree and the others kept their space.”

There were 11 lead changes in the second half alone. Back to back 3-point plays by LeDarius Ward and DeAngelo Richardson gave VHS a 49-43 lead late in the third quarter. Greenville’s Javorian Lawrence, who led the Hornets with 21 points, hit a 3-pointer to close the deficit to 49-46.

Four straight misses by the Gators allowed the Hornets to retake the lead, 55-53, on a basket by Javorian’s twin brother, Jacorian Lawrence.

Davis went to work. He made a 3-point play to put Vicksburg in front. He swished a pair of free throws to answer a pair from Jacorian Lawrence. A running bank shot against two defenders made it 60-57 with 2:52 left.

Vicksburg seemed ready to close out the Hornets after a 3-point attempt fell short and the Gators leading 64-60. But a turnover gave Greenville new life with 1:17 to play. Jacorian Lawrence made two free throws with 1:10 left to cut the lead to 64-62. On the resulting inbounds, DeAndre King got fouled and made one of two shots. Davis came up with a clutch steal with 49 seconds left as he and King combined for six free throws in the final 45 seconds to wrap it up.

King had 17 points and six rebounds for the Gators while Richardson also had 17 points.

Jacorian Lawrence had 20 points followed by Nate Watkins with 10.

(G) Greenville-Weston 56, VHS 51

Vicksburg went cold at the wrong time against Greenville-Weston in a key Division 3-6A contest. Down 53-51, the Missy Gators (8-9, 1-3 3-6A) got the ball after the Honey Bees (12-7, 3-0 3-6A) were called for a double dribble with 1:59 left. Vicksburg’s Kailin Young could not hit a 10-foot shot and Aleeshah Smith’s 3-point attempt was off the mark. Greenville hit three free throws in the final 37 seconds to remain unbeaten in division play.

Greenville-Weston got a big game from 6-foot-1 center Brianna Wright. She had 20 points, 15 rebounds and five blocks. TaKayla Dukes added 11 points and Destiny Hemphill had 10.

Vicksburg was led by Ama Arkoful with 20 points, five steals and five assists. Smith had 12 points after hitting on four 3-pointers. She also had eight rebounds.

A Smith 3-pointer gave VHS its last lead at 42-39 with a minute left in the third quarter. Greenville closed with a 6-0 run to take the lead for good.