[3/5/03]JACKSON The Vicksburg Gators got what they wanted most a rematch with state-power Starkville on a neutral floor.

The North State champion Yellow Jackets survived a scare Wednesday afternoon from Wayne County, but advanced to Friday’s Class 5A state championship game with a 47-46 victory at the Big House. Tipoff Friday night is scheduled for 8 p.m.

“I think our chances this time around will be much, much better,” said VHS point guard Devin Jones, who is averaging 27 points per game in his two at the Coliseum and watched the game Tuesday. “The last time we were so far away from Vicksburg and fan support plays a huge role. Their fans gave them a big lift.”

In the North State championship game, the Gators (29-8) trailed by four points when Jones picked up his fourth foul. Starkville responded with a 16-point victory.

For the Yellow Jackets, it was just another win over a state team. No team from Mississippi has found the solution so far.

“Since the first day, all we have talked about was a state championship,” said Starkville coach Greg Carter, a former Mississippi State standout. “We went to Delaware and lost two and it didn’t matter, we were focused on the state championship.

“We came back and beat McComb (and McDonald’s All-American Jackie Butler), but the state championship has always been on our minds.”

The two games in Delaware were part of a showcase tournament, and a way to get McDonald’s All-American Travis Outlaw national exposure.

Outlaw scored 25 in the victory over Vicksburg in the North State title game and had 15 in the win over Wayne County. The War Eagles pestered the 6-foot, 9-inch senior with a sagging zone defense that at times had two and three defenders on Outlaw.

“They played Outlaw real tough and denied him the ball a lot of times and they put a lot of pressure on him,” Robinson said.

“Certainly we didn’t do a good enough job of that last time and hopefully it will be different this time.”

Carter said that the defense Wayne County used was not unexpected and that if his guards are hitting the outside shot, the help defense is neutralized.

“People have been dropping one guy in the lane and leaving one guy wide open,” Carter said. “Sometimes that guy makes shots and when he does, we score 80 or 90 points and everyone looks good. When he doesn’t make shots, it’s a low-scoring game and we struggle.”

The Gators would like nothing more than to keep the game in the 50s, but it will take another stellar rebounding effort, something VHS has accomplished throughout the tournament.

IF YOU GO:

Friday, 8 p.m. – Vicksburg (29-8) vs. Starkville (28-2)

At Mississippi Coliseum

Tickets: $10 courtside, $7 general admission