Maybe it was the bitterly cold temperatures that forced the Lady Vike bench to huddle around the heaters.

Maybe it was the physicality of a bigger and faster Terry squad. Maybe it was just an off night for a young team.

Whatever the reason, Warren Central was unable to capture lightning in a bottle from Tuesday’s heartbreaker to top-ranked Clinton and fell to Terry 3-1 on Friday.

“We didn’t come to play,” Warren Central coach Janet McMaster said. “Maybe we were overconfident. “We didn’t play like we did against Clinton the other night. We’ve been really consistent, but this was, by far, the worst game we’ve played this year.”

The Lady Vikes (6-6-4) lost Jazmine Walker to an eighth-grade basketball game early in the first half and Katie Humphries took over in goal.

Terry’s Alexis Thornton booted in a shot from 20 yards out that just missed Humphries’ fingertips as it slipped under the crossbar with just 8:30 remaining in the first half.

After McMaster gave her chilly team a halftime pep talk, the Lady Vikes responded and moved with more intensity on offense. Warren Central peppered the box with shot after shot after shot.

Finally, Shannon Richter put the Lady Vikes on the board when she knocked home a deflection with 36:30 remaining in the second half.

Terry scored less than two minutes later. Samantha Smith booted another long prayer that was answered from 20 yards away, as the ball slipped just under the crossbar and Humphries’ leaping attempt for a 2-1 advantage.

Terry finished the scoring on a controversial note, as Kelsey Edwards knocked the ball into the hands of Humphries, who appeared to have gloved it for a save. But the official signalled goal seemingly eons later after a furious protest from the Terry sideline.

(B) Terry 4, WC 0

Bryson Wright and Kyle Upchurch scored two goals apiece to pace the Bulldogs (8-5-3) past Warren Central (7-7).

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Contact Steve Wilson at swilson@vicksburgpost.com.