First place and a top seed in the Division 3-5A Tournament is on the line when the Warren Central Lady Vikes visit the Vicksburg Missy Gators today at 1 p.m.

The two teams are tied at 4-1 in the division standings. The Missy Gators (15-8), however, own a 2-0 edge in the season series having beaten the Lady Vikes (19-6) in the divisional meeting at WC and in the finals of the Vicksburg-Warren Tip-off Classic back in November.

But this time Vicksburg will be without senior forward Rachel Jenkins, a two-time All-Warren County player. Jenkins hurt her knee last week in the Red Carpet Classic against Hazlehurst. She is awaiting an MRI exam on Monday in Jackson.

&#8220Rachel is a really strong player for them, but they have other good players on that team,” WC senior Brittany Willis said. &#8220With first place on the line, it makes it a lot more interesting. We’ll see what happens.”

The Lady Vikes come in off a 56-42 win Tuesday night against Madison Central. The result left Madison Central (2-3) locked in third place and they will play today’s loser in the division tournament at Greenville-Weston on Feb. 12-17.

&#8220This is a district game that’s going to determine first and second. We want to be the team that comes in first,” VHS coach Barbara Hartzog said.

With Jenkins out, the Missy Gators will have to have big games from center Taylor Ammons and wings Kamiko Martin and Tiffany Williams.

&#8220We’re definitely not a one-man team and I feel our other girls will step up,” Hartzog added.

The Lady Vikes are led by 2006 Vicksburg Post Player of the Year Sha’Kayla Caples. She’s averaging nearly 20 points and 11 rebounds this season.

Willis is the Lady Vikes’ next leading scorer but the’ve been boosted recently by the play of sophomore point guard Karnina Bunch who had 11 assists in Tuesday’s win over Madison Central.

The boys contest will pit a surging Viking club against the homestanding Gators. WC (13-13, 3-2) still has an outside shot at first place but will need a win today and a Greenville-Weston upset of Madison Central.

Still, the Vikings handed the Jaguars (4-1) their first division loss last Tuesday in a 65-55 decision. A Vicksburg win would set up a rematch with the Vikings in the division tournament in Greenville. The teams split their two earlier meetings, with the Gators winning the last time in overtime at WC.

Viking coach Jesse Johnson says the key will be holding down the Gators’ most prolific scorer, junior Jonathan Phelps.

&#8220We need to shut down Phelps. If he can’t get to 30, (points) they don’t win,” Johnson said. &#8220We need the same type of effort we showed Tuesday night against Madison Central.”

The Vikings are led by 6-foot-5 center Mario Luckett. Johnson feels his star is playing the best basketball of his career.

&#8220Mario is showing his skills with his scoring and ball handling and it’s helping prepare him for college ball next year,” Johnson said.

VHS coach Dellie C. Robinson says the Gators (15-9, 2-3) will get some extra help Saturday with the debut of eighth grade phenom Mychal Ammons. At 6-foot-4 1/2, Ammons would become the Gators’ tallest player.

&#8220He’s going to play Saturday. I don’t know how much, but he’s definitely going to get in there,” Robinson said of Ammons who led the U.S. national team to the FIBA 15-and-under World Championship in December in Geneva, Switzerland.