[2/19/03]STARKVILLE When Warren Central entered the Starkville city limits, the Vikings were automatically considered outlaws.

But there was already one local “Outlaw” that has whole city in frenzy n Travis Outlaw.

The 6-foot, 9-inch Mississippi State signee is considered one of the top players in the state and is catching the eyes of many professional scouts.

The senior center scored 21 points and blocked five shots leading the Yellowjackets to a 102-58 win over the Vikings in Class 5A satellite game.

“I think we always had what it takes to be a real good team,” said Starkville coach Greg Carter, whose Jackets (25-2) have not lost to a Mississippi school this season. “Hopefully we can ride this momentum throughout the playoffs.”

This was the Vikings first time playing in the postseason since 1994 and second-year coach Preston Wilson is not satisfied with just making it. The Vikings finished the season at 17-12.

“We are coming along, but we still have a long way to go,” Wilson said. “It’s good to make here, but we can’t be happy with that. We had a good season, but we’ve got to work hard over the summer to get where we want to be.”

Dewayne Washington led the Vikings with 17 points and most of them came against the much taller Outlaw.

“That was part of the game plan,” Wilson said. “We didn’t execute it.”

Ronnie Jones poured in 11 points for Warren Central, including two 3-pointers that kept it close late in the first quarter. The Jackets, though, got 11 points from Outlaw and 10 points from Jarvis Hill in the first quarter to open a 25-14 lead. Hill finished the game with 16 points.

The Jackets outscored WC, 29-16, in the second quarter to take a 54-30 lead at halftime.

Using a zone-press, Starkville held Warren Central scoreless for almost six minutes of the third quarter before a Brian Phelps basket gave WC its first points of the second half. But by that time, the Jackets had already put up nine points and extended their lead to 63-30. The Vikings trailed 71-36 going into the final quarter.