The basketball bounced off the rim, and Keiyana Gaskin reacted immediately. She leapt high in the air, snatched it with both hands, and ripped it away from her opponent from Lawrence County with a scowl on her face.

It’s not a play a point guard typically makes, but this isn’t a typical season for this particular point guard.

Gaskin, a 5-foot-6 senior for Vicksburg High, is averaging 5.6 rebounds per game. She’s had two games in double figures, and a total of 15 in wins over Pearl on Friday and Lawrence County on Saturday.

“This year, because we’re smaller than the teams I usually play on, I’m doing it more,” Gaskin said of her rebonding. “But I’ve always had hops. We always had bigger people so I wouldn’t have to be on the block. But this year I have to step up into the position that my team needs.”

Gaskin is in her third year as Vicksburg’s starting point guard. She’s done well in that role, although she has been inconsistent at times.

She had a stretch of three straight games scoring in double figures in division games last season, then only did it once in the Missy Gators’ last five games. A 21-point effort against Lanier last January was followed by an eight-point performance against Terry the next day.

This year, with the rebounding leading to several easy putback baskets per game, Gaskin has scored in double figures in eight of Vicksburg’s 10 games. She had a team-high 19 points in a 51-33 win over Lawrence County on Saturday, and has posted two double-doubles.

Gaskin even had seven blocks in a 53-49 victory over Pearl on Nov. 19.

“She can protect the basket, she’s got the quick step and the speed. Sometimes her layups will be off, but she knows how to get it going,” teammate Karry Callahan said. “She’s outrebounding other teams’ big girls. She’ll get in there and get good, tough rebounds. If she gets offensive rebounds, she can put it back up.”

Gaskin’s speed and jumping ability — she’s the defending Class 5A champion in the 100 and 200 meters in track — make up for her lack of height. And her increase in rebounding is helping the Missy Gators in other areas, as well.

With a second threat in the post, Callahan is finding more room to work. The senior who averaged 15.8 rebounds per game last season has nine double-doubles this year and five games with 20 rebounds or more.

Gaskin and Callahan are both excellent ballhandlers who alternate bringing the ball up the floor. With Gaskin becoming a presence on the defensive boards, either she or Callahan can quickly get back on offense and turn a lot of rebounds into fast break opportunities.

On the offensive end, Gaskin’s rebounding creates second-chance baskets, extends possessions and helps the Missy Gators cut down on turnovers.

“Not only does she have a quick first step, it’s her jumping ability. That’s had an impact,” Vicksburg coach Barbara Hartzog said. “Our post people are really young, so I put her down there and she can help Karry with the rebounding. That eliminates some passing, but it takes away turnovers and that helps us a lot. Just being able to be versatile is the big thing.”

Gaskin feels like she and Callahan have formed an effective tag team on offense.

“Karry can help me bring the ball up, so I know if it’s in her hands I can work more on the inside. I don’t have to be at the top and having to drive all the time,” Gaskin said.

Although Gaskin and Callahan are clearly Vicksburg’s two main threats, Gaskin’s play has helped the rest of their teammates get involved as well. In three of Vicksburg’s last four games, a player other than Gaskin or Callahan has scored eight or more points.

Lately, the big beneficiary has been Micha Williams. The shooting guard is averaging 9.2 points per game during the Missy Gators’ current four-game winning streak.

With everyone getting in on the action, the Missy Gators have surged to a 7-3 record heading into the holiday tournament season. They’ll play Clinton and Murrah on Friday and Saturday afternoons, respectively, at the Ridgeland High School Shootout, and then face Terry and Northwest Rankin Dec. 28 and 29 at the Northwest Rankin tournament.

“Everybody plays as a team,” Gaskin said. “We don’t see anybody as being better than anybody else. We just play our role and get the job done.”