On a team with seven seniors, it can be difficult to stand out, but that’s exactly what Amber Gaston did.

The center led Warren Central in scoring, and the team to the Class 6A quarterfinals for the first time in a decade. She also earned The Vicksburg Post’s girls’ basketball Player of the Year award for the second consecutive season.

For the Florida Atlantic signee, it all started with a leadership role in the locker room and off the court.

“You have to set yourself apart and take initiative, basically,” Gaston said. “I’ve always been a positive figure in my classroom, around school, with my friends, so it was kind of natural for me. I just want to be a positive role model, because there’s moments where you’re down, but I just try to be that positive figure for my fellow teammates and the younger players.”

Gaston, who averaged 12.2 points, 6.6 rebounds and 3.6 blocks a game, was not only tasked with being the No. 1 option for the Lady Vikes on offense, but also the leader of their defense and the last line of defense in protecting the rim.

“I am 6-3, the tallest person on the court, so you have a lot of responsibility to uphold, and that was pretty much it,” Gaston said. “Knowing when are the right moments to ask for the ball, and even if I wasn’t scoring the ball, just getting the ball on offense, setting screens or getting someone open. And on defense, just if someone gets by my players, being there for the block, or blocking out and rebounding. I don’t feel like it’s a job, it’s just my role.”

Gaston finished her high school career with 282 blocked shots in four seasons. She averaged 2.9 per game for her career.

Gaston said the most important component of her shot blocking acumen, in addition to her length and athleticism, was timing.

“It’s just anticipating it, when they think they’re going to get the shot out, but you just come and swat it out of the air,” Gaston said. “A lot of times it’s a foul when it could’ve been a block, so it’s all about timing and knowing when to jump.”

Gaston torched defenses if they left her open in the mid-range this season, splashing her jumper with regularity. Instead of only focusing on her post play, Gaston has continuously worked on improving her shot to stretch the floor, with plans to one day be a threat from 3-point range.

“When I came in as a freshman, it was rough. I had to change my shot completely,” Gaston said. “Throughout that transition I shot a couple of air balls and whatnot, and in the end I got good results. It’s more fluid now, and I’m more confident in my shot. So just persistence, repetition is what it takes, and I can only get better from here.”

It was hard work like that that drove Gaston to keep improving and be a two-way force for the Lady Vikes.

Warren Central went 22-9 this season, and lost in the Class 6A quarterfinals to Pearl. It was the first time Warren Central had reached the Jackson portion of the state tournament since 2007.

“This is my senior year, and I committed (to Florida Atlantic) in September, so this has given me extra motivation to work hard, and with seven returning seniors it felt like a family, and you have that bond,” Gaston said. “You’ve been together for so long, you just want to excel. That was it. Just working hard, and knowing I had to be there for my team and coach.”

Next year, Gaston will be competing at the Division I level at Florida Atlantic. She was quick to thank all of her coaches, trainers and family for helping her reach the level she’s at. Overall, Gaston said she was proud of the season and career she had.

“I can say that I gave it everything that I had,” Gaston said. “I’ve played with injuries, ankle sprains this year, so that was kind of a downfall for me, and kind of disappointing. I know that if I hadn’t had those setbacks, then I would’ve done a lot better, but overall, I gave it all that I had and I leave no regrets.”

Vicksburg Post girls basketball Players of the Year
2018 – Amber Gaston, Warren Central
2017 – Amber Gaston, Warren Central
2016 – Karry Callahan, Vicksburg
2015 – Karry Callahan, Vicksburg
2014 – Karry Callahan, Vicksburg
2013 – Ann Garrison Thomas, St. Aloysius
2012 – Ama Arkorful, Vicksburg
2011 – Donyeah Mayfield, Vicksburg
2010 – Donyeah Mayfield, Vicksburg
2009 – Sha’Kayla Caples, Warren Central
2008 – Sha’Kayla Caples, Warren Central
2007 – Sha’Kayla Caples, Warren Central
2006 – Sha’Kayla Caples, Warren Central
2005 – Cookie Johnson, Warren Central
2004 – Cookie Johnson, Warren Central
2003 – Cookie Johnson, Warren Central
2002 – JaQuita Benard, Warren Central
2001 – E.J. Willis, Porters Chapel
2000 – E.J. Willis, Porters Chapel
1999 – Catrina Frierson, Vicksburg
1998 – Catrina Frierson, Vicksburg
1997 – Cynthia Hall, Vicksburg
1996 – Lakeshia Blue, Warren Central
1995 – Tangie Cooper, Warren Central
1994 – Tangie Cooper, Warren Central
1993 – Tangie Cooper, Warren Central