When Warren Central beat Murrah in the Jackson Public Schools Tournament in December, it was seen by some around the state as a fluke.

After Tuesday, that opinion is sure to change.

Warren Central overcame a 10-point deficit in the second half, and used some sharp free throw shooting down the stretch to beat Murrah 44-41 on its home floor in Jackson.

Murrah (15-6, 2-1 Division 4-6A), the defending Class 6A champion, has only lost three games this season to teams from Mississippi. Two of them have been to Warren Central (17-5, 2-1).

Cocoa Fultz led the Lady Vikes with 16 points, and provided the final push after they had wiped out their deficit earlier in the half and then blown a seven-point lead of their own.

Fultz hit both ends of a one-and-one free throw chance to put WC ahead 43-41 with less than a minute left. On the other end, she grabbed the rebound of a Murrah miss, was fouled, and hit one of two free throws to make it a three-point game.

The Lady Vikes then waited out Murrah in the final seconds. The Lady Mustangs had the ball with four seconds left, but WC still had two fouls to give. They used them to burn off three of the four seconds on the clock on consecutive inbounds plays, leaving Murrah with just a heave from beyond half court that was well short.

Amber Gaston added 13 points for Warren Central. Jamaica Almonds led Murrah with 14 points.

(B) Murrah 61, Warren Central 57

Warren Central (8-9, 1-2 Division 4-6A) nearly completed a miraculous comeback in the last two minutes, but came up just short in a loss at Murrah (15-4, 3-0).

Warren Central trailed by 10 points with just under two minutes to go. Baskets by DeAries Henyard and Shaun Walton, and a couple of free throws by Raleigh Floyd put the Vikings down three with the ball and less than 20 seconds remaining. They turned it over, however, and Murrah hit one of two free throws to seal it.

Walton led Warren Central with 24 points and Henyard scored 18.

Eric Thornton led Murrah with 23 points, while Adam Wallace and Jonas James II scored 12 each.

(B) Vicksburg 56, Ridgeland 48

Raheam Moore went 8-for-10 from the free throw line and finished with 15 points, and Kirk Parker had a double-double with 13 points and 12 rebounds as Vicksburg (13-6, 2-1 Division 4-5A) won its fourth consecutive game.

The Gators used a run in the third quarter to pull away after the teams were tied 16-all at halftime, and got some key contributions from the bench when Parker had to sit because of foul trouble.

“The bench is not doing a lot of scoring, but they are playing good defense,” VHS interim coach Kelvin Carter said. “The guys are playing really good as a team and they are welcoming the assisted minutes from their sophomore and junior counterparts. The team’s oneness is growing daily.”

Vicksburg continues a four-game home stand Friday night when it faces first-place Neshoba Central.

(G) Amite 32, PCA 17

Sarah Booty scored 14 points as Amite School Center beat Porters Chapel Academy on Tuesday.
Kaylee Hinson led Porters Chapel with four points and seven rebounds, and Cameron Yocum had three points and six rebounds.

Porters Chapel will play its final home game of the season Thursday at 5 p.m. against Rebul Academy.