I was 16 the last time Warren Central beat Vicksburg in boys basketball.

That was a time when I was listening to Kenny Chesney and wearing shorter shorts than the girl I dated. Miley Cyrus was Hannah Montana. Puka shell necklaces weren’t out of the question.

Warren Central beating Vicksburg in hoops was.

It just didn’t happen. For eight years, the Gators topped the Vikings, most of the time without much worry. Nineteen straight times Warren Central fell to its crosstown rival.

That’s a long time.

But on Saturday afternoon, in the cramped quarters of Warren Central’s gym, the Vikings finally turned the tables.

It was a game destined for Warren County lore. WC going down by double digits at home, while the clearly partisan split in the crowd either stoked the flames or sat in stunned silence.

Vicksburg went on an 11-0 run early, and I watched as a woman in the crowd — who could barely stand and needed help getting in the bleachers — popped up and danced to Rich Gang like she was auditioning for the music video. Her family cried with laughter. She had moves.

But then Warren Central slowly climbed back into it. The crowd that flowed into the lobby and out of the door shifted its tone. The people who sat on their hands stood up in awe. The gym was packed to the roof, and at each foul or basket fans screamed and stomped and clapped like they were attendees of the Roman Coliseum.

They got to witness Mario Doyle and K.J. Murphy go to battle. Vicksburg’s Murphy scored seven points in what seemed like seven seconds at one point. When he was fouled with an and-one late in the game, he screamed to the heavens while the Gator faithful cheered like it was their home game.

Then Doyle sparked a furious Viking comeback punctuated by three straight free throws to send the game into overtime, and Warren Central reclaimed its home court advantage with a thunderous roar. You could compact the pressure that built inside that gym and sell it to a CO2 factory. Doyle was all set to shoot a three with the game on the line when he was fouled by Murphy. Vicksburg fans will tell you it was all ball all day. Warren Central faithful will say if that wasn’t a foul, there is no such thing. Still, Doyle walked up to the free throw line like he was tapping in a birdie from two feet on the sixth hole.

Doyle carried the Vikings through two overtimes, eventually hitting a latefree throw to secure their first win over Vicksburg since Nov. 11, 2006.

If there has been a better high school basketball performance this year, I do not know it. Nor do I really want to. That’s how special this one felt.

It was a performance even my dumb 16-year-old self could appreciate.

And that’s almost as impressive as the win.

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Cory Gunkel is a reporter. He can be reached at 601-636-4545, Ext. 178, or by email at cory.gunkel@vicksburgpost.com