[1/8/03]There wasn’t an echo coming from the baskets in Vicksburg High’s gym Tuesday night, although it certainly seemed like it. It was simply the same sound repeating over and over “swish.”

Vicksburg hit 62 percent of its shots from the field to beat Clinton which shot 50 percent for the game and 65 percent in the first half 73-62.

Devin Jones had 20 points, five assists and four steals to lead the Gators (14-4, 2-0 Division 4-5A), who also connected on 8 of 13 3-pointers. Roy Williams added 13 points, and L.J. Scott and Jamaal Thomas each had 12.

Sernell Williams scored 16 of his game-high 24 points in the second half for Clinton (8-8, 0-1).

“They were just falling from every angle. We were just taking our time and making our shots,” Jones said.

VHS made an incredible 17 of 22 shots in the first half including 6 of 7 from 3-point range but barely squeaked out a six-point lead at the break, 44-38.

That was because Clinton was almost as good. The Arrows were 15-for-23 from the floor in the first half, and made five 3-pointers.

“It was (frustrating) because I thought we were playing pretty good defense on them and they were still making shots,” VHS coach Dellie Robinson said.

VHS took a 10-point lead in the first quarter, 18-8, but Clinton chopped it down to a 3-point deficit by the end of the period and neither team led by more than 10 points again until the end of the third quarter.

That was when VHS took advantage of a brief shooting swoon by Clinton and a little luck to break away.

With time winding down in the third quarter, Thomas grabbed a rebound of a Clinton miss and got the ball to Jones near halfcourt. Just before the horn sounded, Jones let it fly and the ball hit nothing but net to give the Gators a 60-49 lead heading into the final period.

“We were working on it in practice. We were just joking around, but I got my steps and rhythm down,” Jones said. “Good thing it fell when it did. We needed the momentum, and that gave us a big boost.”

Clinton cut the lead to 65-60 with just under two minutes to play. Surprisingly, Clinton coach Bruce Robinson then ordered his players to foul, rather than play defense and try for a steal or a stop.

The strategy didn’t work. Jones hit six free throws in the final 1:42 and Clinton made only one basket the rest of the way.

“I know Dellie. When he gets a five-point lead with two minutes left it’s like a 20-point lead. I knew we had to foul. They’re good at holding onto the ball,” Bruce Robinson said.

(G) Clinton 50, VHS 48

Despite being dominated on the boards and shooting 10 fewer free throws than Vicksburg, Clinton still found a way to pull out a win.

The Lady Arrows got 17 points from Markessa Hughes and held the Missy Gators to 29 percent shooting through three quarters. VHS outrebounded Clinton 31-20, but couldn’t put back many of its own misses.

“We just didn’t shoot the ball well,” VHS coach Mike Coleman said. “When you can’t put the ball in the basket, it’s hard to win no matter how well you play.”

Clinton used a 6-0 run at the start of the second quarter to take the lead from VHS, and never trailed again. Clinton never led by more than 10 points, but was able to hold on to the lead by limiting most of its shots to high-percentage layups.

Even those weren’t such a sure thing for the Missy Gators, however.

VHS had a chance to tie the game or take the lead on four separate trips down the floor in the final two minutes, but missed layups on three occasions and a wide-open 3-pointer on another.

On their final possession, the Missy Gators had the ball under the goal while trailing by two points, 50-48. One layup attempt hit the bottom of the rim, and another was blocked as time expired.

“I would’ve liked the chance to put it into overtime and give it another four minutes,” Coleman said.

Tiffany Hubbard led VHS with 21 points, seven rebounds and five steals. Tricia Dart added 11 points and nine rebounds.