Vicksburg’s Cedric Parsons slams home two of his 12 points in the Gators’ 72-50 loss to top-ranked and defending Class 4A champion Provine in the first round of the Coca-Cola Classic on Monday. (Jon GiffinThe Vicksburg Post)

[11/11/03]Top-ranked Provine gave Vicksburg High a lesson in growing up on Monday night.

And it wasn’t a pleasant one.

Standout guard Charlie White scored a team-high 16 points and recorded seven steals as the Rams (2-0), the defending Class 4A champions, blew away the Gators, 72-50.

“They have size, speed, height, 3-point shooters; they have it all,” Vicksburg coach Dellie Robinson said. “If they aren’t the number 1 team in the state, they certainly should be tied for it.”

Provine also avenged a pair of losses to Vicksburg last season as the Gators advanced to win the Class 5A state championship.

Most of that Vicksburg team is gone, however, and all of the Rams are back. Provine returned all five starters, including the state player of the year in White.

“We came out and played hard,” said White, who scored six of his 16 points in the fourth quarter. “We knew they lost their point guard and we wanted to put pressure on number 11 (Sedrick Williams). We knew he’s the only one that could shoot, so we put pressure on him.”

Williams paced the Gators with 17 points 15 in the second half and Cedric Parsons added 12 points and 10 rebounds. Alfred Patton came off the bench to score nine points and grab 11 rebounds for VHS.

“I really thought Alfred Patton played well,” Robinson said. “Our big boys are playing well, but our guards and perimeter players are not getting the job done.”

Provine forced Vicksburg into 32 turnovers, including 10 in the first quarter as the Rams stormed out to a 19-7 lead at the end of the period.

Back-to-back 3-pointers by Derrick Smith late in the second quarter gave Provine a 31-10 lead, and the Rams kept the cushion around 20 points for the remainder of the game.

VHS cut the lead to 16 midway through the fourth quarter, but Provine put the starters back in, caused five straight turnovers and upped the lead to 68-46.

“We laid back a little and let them back into the game,” White said. “Coach told us next time you get up, don’t let up.”

(G) Provine 79, Vicksburg 55

After beating Vicksburg High last season, Provine coach Barbara Hartzog watched as her team bus rolled, without a driver, through the fence separating Frontage Road from Interstate 20 in front of McDonald’s.

On Monday, her team just rolled through the Missy Gators.

Provine, ranked ninth in the state, used a 24-9 outburst in the third quarter to erase a 2-point deficit and cruise past Vicksburg.

“They rolled through us like their bus rolled through that fence,” Vicksburg coach Mike Coleman said.

Tiffany Hubbard scored 16 points and grabbed 13 rebounds, and Kendra Sims netted 12 points for the Missy Gators (1-1).

Vicksburg led 33-31 at halftime, but Sandra Harper scored 15 of her game-high 23 in the second half to turn the game into a runaway.

“The first two minutes of the second half, they got all the momentum,” Coleman said. “After that, we couldn’t get it back.”