Vicksburg girls fall to RaymondGators get big boost from Brisco
Published 11:26 am Tuesday, November 20, 2012
A familiar face was back in the Vicksburg Gym Monday night.
Former Vicksburg High girls coach Mike Coleman brought his Lady Rangers to battle the Missy Gators, and Raymond left with a decisive 56-43 win.
The loss snapped Vicksburg’s two-game home winning streak and dropped the Missy Gators to 3-3.
Coleman, who coached at Vicksburg for six years, started his career at Raymond and then left Vicksburg for a seven-year stint at Quitman High School. At Quitman, his team finished 25-5 last season. Since he left, Raymond has become one of the top programs in Mississippi with two state titles, including an overall title in 2010.
“My last year at Raymond, we were 34-4 and then I left to come here and they won state the next two years,” Coleman said. “I felt a need to get closer to home where my parents are, in Raymond, and could not believe that this opportunity came along.”
The Lady Rangers are now 5-0 under Coleman. They trailed 19-12 early in the second quarter, but rallied as Vicksburg fell victim to poor shooting and turnovers.
The Missy Gators committed 26 turnovers in the game. They went 8-for-22 from the field during the middle two quarters as Raymond caught fire.
“The second half was great because I like to go five in and five out and I thought Vicksburg got a little tired,” Coleman said.
Vicksburg senior Aleeshia Smith said the Missy Gators must bounce back tonight against Canton.
“We didn’t play good and we kind of gave up there in the last quarter,” Smith said. “We got down ourselves after they hit a couple of 3s. We’ll be ready to move on against Canton.”
Tamara Williams hit five 3-pointers during Raymond’s hot spell as the Lady Rangers swished 10-of-14 shots to go up 49-33 after three quarters.
Ama Arkoful led Vicksburg with 20 points but missed a 5-footer and a 3-pointer that could have reduced Raymond’s lead to single digits.
Arnissayur Robinson paced Raymond with 24 points.