Playing for the last time in the Warren Central’s gym Friday night, senior Eric Howard went out in the best way possible. He helped lead the Vikings to a historic win over Greenville-Weston.

Howard got the ball to the right people and made enough free throws to cap a 62-60 win for Warren Central on Senior Night.

The win was the Vikings’ 10th of the season, the most since 2007. It was also their first Division 3-6A win in five years. The last time WC had won a divisional game was Jan. 19, 2007 at home against Greenville-Weston.

Warren Central coach Chareck Cable was ecstatic.

“For real, this was a great Senior Night. We wanted to send Eric out the right way,” Cable said.

Howard, the Vikings’ lone senior, was all smiles afterwards. He made five free throws in the final three minutes and had eight assists.

“I’m just speechless,” Howard said. “I had to step up and be the senior. Our only motive was to get the win.”

Howard was able to get his assists because the Vikings kept knocking down big shots. They made five 3-pointers and were just above 50 percent (22-of-43) for all field goals in the game.

The shots in the first half helped WC grab a 30-16 lead even with its best player, Kourey Davis, on the bench with three fouls.

Greenville-Weston (20-4, 3-3) made a late charge to make it 31-24 by halftime. Davis came back to start the third quarter and the Vikings went back to making shots. Two 3-pointers by Jermaine Smith and three baskets by Davis helped WC extend its lead to 47-32 after three quarters.

The Vikings were still up 13 with 3:12 to go when the Hornets went on a shooting binge. Jacorian Lawrence drained a 30-foot 3-pointer. His brother, Javorian, hit a contested three with 1:14 left to cut the lead to 58-52.

A three-point play by Jeremiah Moore and another basket by Jacorian Lawrence made it 59-57 with 40 seconds to go.

The situation got even worse for WC when Davis was called for a charge, his fifth foul of the game.

Instead of folding up, the Vikings rose to the occasion. They forced a turnover that led to Smith getting fouled with 28.8 seconds left. He made both shots for a 61-57 lead.

Jacorian Lawrence got fouled six seconds later, but could make just one of two shots. The second miss got fumbled out of bounds and the Hornets were given the ball.

Greenville-Weston missed two attempts at a tying 3-pointer, but on the third try, Percy Ford was fouled. He got three shots with 2.1 seconds left. He made the first, missed the second, and made the third to make it 61-60.

WC got the ball to Howard on the inbounds and was fouled. He made the first free throw. He pulled his second short, but the miss killed the remaining second.

Javorian Lawrence led the Hornets with 24 points. Jacorian Lawrence had 13.

Davis led WC with 18 points and six rebounds. Smith had 11 points, four rebounds and two steals.

(G) Greenville-Weston 60, WC 39

South Alabama signee Breanna Wright scored 27 points to throttle the Lady Vikes as the Honey Bees finished the Division 3-6A regular season unbeaten at 6-0. Greenville-Weston (17-7, 6-0) will be the top seed in the division tournament at Clinton. The loss drops the Lady Vikes (8-15, 2-4) to third and they will face Vicksburg in the division tournament semifinals for the third straight year.

Greenville held WC to just six points in the first half and led 30-6. Wright scored 16 of her 27 points in the second half.

WC scored more points in the fourth quarter (21) than they did in the first three.

Justina Ratliff had nine points to lead the Lady Vikes. Lauren Page added 15 points for the Honey Bees.

(B) Piney Woods 87, St. Aloysius 47

Matthew Foley scored 24 points to pace St. Aloysius (1-19).

(G) Piney Woods 68, St. Aloysius 58

Ann Garrison Thomas scored 25 for St. Al. Allie Willis and Ellie Welp added 11 points apiece.