The Vicksburg Gators played a game they had to have Friday night.

They didn’t get it.

Lanier dealt Vicksburg a 57-42 loss in a crucial game in the Division 4-5A race.

The loss dropped Vicksburg two games behind Lanier (12-9, 2-2 Division 4-5A) for third place in the division with three to play, and all but ensured the Gators will have to play defending state champion Callaway in the first round of the division tournament next month.

The Gators (11-7, 0-3) have lost four straight games and host Callaway on Tuesday night.

“This is a night we really needed to have, but it didn’t go our way,” Vicksburg coach Dellie C. Robinson said. “We didn’t shoot the ball well at all, and we didn’t have (point gaurd) Tyler Smith, so we struggled offensively.”

Smith missed the game because of an illness.

(G) Lanier 51, Vicksburg 50

The Vicksburg Missy Gators rallied from an eight-point deficit, then lost a six-point lead — all in the fourth quarter — before ultimately losing to Lanier on Friday night.

The Missy Gators had a chance to eke out the win, but Karry Callahan missed two free throws with 5.2 seconds left that would have given them the lead.

As a team, Vicksburg was 8-for-22 at the foul line.

“Again, we’re doing what we need to do and we’re just not making the free throws,” Vicksburg coach Barbara Hartzog said. “We’re attacking the basket and getting in position, and then not making the free throws. We’ve gotten a lot better, though. In three days since that Pearl game (a 76-43 loss on Jan. 16) we’ve improved a lot.”

Keiyana Gaksin led Vicksburg with 21 points, and Ruddie Shears scored 16. Callahan, the team’s leading scorer, finished with just five points but contributed 15 rebounds and four steals.

Vicksburg (10-9, 0-3 Division 4-5A) lost its fourth straight game and has not won yet in 2015. It’ll host Terry tonight at 6 in the Red Carpet Classic.