The Vicksburg Missy Gators started their run-up to the Division 4-5A tournament with a thrilling — and needed — victory.

Micha Williams hit a tiebreaking 3-pointer with 1:02 remaining, and the Missy Gators beat Canton 52-51 on Friday night to snap a five-game losing streak.

Williams finished with just seven points, but hit two 3-pointers including the one from the corner late in the game that put Vicksburg (11-13) ahead to stay. Karry Callahan split a pair of free throws with 39 seconds left to make it a four-point game, and Canton’s only points down the stretch came on a 3-point heave at the buzzer.

Callahan finished with 26 points, 22 rebounds six assists and three blocked shots.

Keiyana Gaskin had 11 points, six rebounds and two blocks for Vicksburg, which won despite going 13-for-33 from the foul line and 3-for-20 from 3-point range.

Chelsea Holloway led Canton (3-19) with 15 points and Morgan Williams scored 14. Canton hit six 3-pointers in the game, including three by Williams in the fourth quarter.

Vicksburg will host Greenville and Brandon next week as it gets ready for the Division 4-5A tournament that begins Feb. 16 at Lanier High School in Jackson. Both the girls and boys teams will play Ridgeland in the first round, and win or lose will play again on Feb. 19. The top three teams from the division tournament advance to the Class 5A state tournament.

 

(B) Canton 48, Vicksburg 40

Kirk Parker and Raheam Moore each scored 11 points in the loss to Canton Friday night. Joe Thomas followed with another double-digit effort with 10 points. Thomas went 4-of-6 from the free-throw line.