Wingfield made it to the state tournament at the Mississippi Coliseum last year in Class 5A and coach Herman Sanders feels this year’s team can make it back.

The Falcons (11-2) made a believer out of the Warren Central Vikings with an 80-56 victory Tuesday night at WC.

“This team showed a lot of character in a loss to Lanier (51-50) last week. They want to win,” Sanders said of his Falcons, who lost most of their height off last year’s state tournament team. “We lost our size, but we’re very athletic and they can become a pretty good team.”

Wingfield showed some shooting range, draining five 3-pointers in the first half, including Darius McMillian’s 30-footer at the horn to give the Falcons a commanding 48-24 lead at the break. Warren Central (3-8) managed to play on even terms in the second half but coach Jesse Johnson was not happy.

“We just don’t have the players. He (Sanders) has a veteran team, while I’ve got seven guys who are in their first year of playing,” Johnson said.

At least all of them got to play. Eleven different Vikings scored with Jeremye Smith’s 17 points leading the way. Gus Brown, one of the WC newcomers, had nine. No one else had more than six.

Wingfield had four in double figures led by Chris Wallace with 16. Ananza Richardson chipped in 14 while Jarell Wilson had 13 and McMillian had 11.

Wingfield took command early with a 23-6 first quarter. The closest WC could get in the second half was 21 points in the fourth quarter.

(G) WC 81, Wingfield 60

The Lady Vikes scored a season-high 81 points to beat a Wingfield club that has been a thorn in coach Donny Fuller’s side for the past two seasons.

“They’ve lost a lot. Their guards are pretty inexperienced and we took advantage of that in the first half,” Fuller said.

WC (7-4) built a 30-point lead late in the third quarter at 65-35. Fuller cleared his bench to start the fourth quarter and the Lady Falcons (7-4) went on a 15-2 tear to pull within 67-52 with five minutes left.

“That’s the coach’s fault. I needed to get these younger players in and then they go to pressing us,” Fuller said.

The Lady Vikes were coming off a tough 59-45 loss to Callaway last week in the final of the WC Classic. They meet Callaway again Friday in Jackson.

“We had a shoot-around Sunday and then got after it some Monday, but with Callaway coming up we’ve got to have our legs by Friday,” Fuller added.

Sha’Kayla Caples, who had 21 points through three quarters, came back to chip in six more in the final five minutes to stabilize the game. Karnina Bunch added 16 points and six assists. Ricille Davis had nine points.

Favian Cowards scored 19 of her 21 points in the second half to lead Wingfield.

(B) St. Aloysius 78, MSD 65

Alex Lanier scored a team-high 14 points, Chip Donald poured in 12 and Duffy Lowell scored 10 as the Flashes won for the second time.

Thirteen of the Flashes’ 16 players scored in a game that saw St. Al take a 48-18 lead into the half. St. Al led by 31 going into the fourth before Mississippi School for the Deaf scored 28 fourth-quarter points.

Marquarius Boyd scored 33 in the loss.

(G) MSD 45, St. Aloysius 41

Elizabeth Mazzanti paced the Lady Flashes with 18 points and Tori Hines scored 11, but MSD outscored the Lady Flashes 14-5 in the fourth quarter to sneak away with a victory.

The Lady Flashes fell to 1-6.