GREENVILLE – The Vicksburg Missy Gators had the last shot but did not get the shot they wanted as Tiffany Williams’ 25-footer at the horn fell way short and Warren Central escaped with a 55-54 win in the Division 3-5A girls championship game Friday night at Greenville-Weston.

The loss spoiled a terrific comeback for the Missy Gators (16-13), who trimmed a 10-point WC lead down to one after freshman Alexus Stirgus drained a 3-pointer with 7.9 seconds left to make it 55-54. Vicksburg then forced a turnover at midcourt and had the chance to go for the win with 5.8 seconds left.

&#8220I thought they would run something to the basket, that’s why I brought Karnina (Bunch) up and left everyone else back,” said WC coach Donny Fuller. &#8220They called timeout right after the intial inbound but I don’t think (coach Barbara Hartzog) wanted them to call a second timeout.”

The Missy Gators did just that to reset a play with 4.9 seconds left. There was a bit of confusion at the top of the key and then Williams finally got the ball as the clock hit zero, forcing a desperate attempt.

&#8220I was hoping we’d do the lob but they had too much pressure on the outside,” said VHS center Taylor Ammons, who led Vicksburg with 16 points and eight rebounds.

With the win, Warren Central (23-8) advances to host Starkville Monday night in a Class 5A North State satelite game. Vicksburg must travel to third-ranked Tupelo (29-2) Monday night.

WC sophomore Sha’Kayla Caples led the Lady Vikes with a game-high 27 points in just over 22 minutes of play. But it was senior Shantta Taylor who made the key shots in the fourth quarter.

Taylor, who won the division’s sportsmanship award, knocked down WC’s last field goal of the game with three minutes left with a 3-pointer that made it 54-46.

&#8220I’m glad I hit them at the right time,” Taylor said.

She had an earlier 3-pointer to open the fourth quarter and keyed the Lady Vikes to their largest lead of the game at 51-41.

&#8220Vicksburg won the first two games against us, but we won the last two, including the one that counted the most. We didn’t want to lose to them again,” Taylor said.

Fuller said Hartzog deserves a lot of praise for having the Missy Gators ready to play.

&#8220Barbara Hartzog has done a great job with Vicksburg High School. She deserves a lot of credit for getting them to this point.”

The game started briskly with the teams combining for 39 points in the first quarter. Caples had 17 of her 27 in the opening quarter as WC held a 20-19 lead.

The Missy Gators began finding Ammons down low and that helped them retake the lead at 34-33 by the half.

Caples, who sat out most of the second quarter with two fouls, came back to score her last 10 points of the game in the third quarter as WC went back in front and led 46-41 going to the fourth quarter.

Taylor’s nine points was the next leading WC scorer. Shawnise Smith gave Fuller valuable minutes off the bench with four points, five assists and four rebounds.

Williams finished with 15 points for the Missy Gators while Stirgus had 13.

St. Al 55, Bogue Chitto 54

Sarah Kerut scored 29 points, including a game-winning jumper with 3 seconds to play, to lead St. Aloysius to the Division 7-1A Tournament championship.

Kerut dribbled into the lane with the clock winding down in the fourth quarter, was stripped of the ball but regained it, then drilled the game-winner for St. Al (21-8). She also had seven rebounds and four steals.

Katie Koestler added 12 points and Bonney Neill had eight for St. Al, which will host South Leake in a Class 1A South State satellite game on Monday.