[1/10/04]NATCHEZ Warren Central’s 2-3 zone defense stymied Natchez High on Friday night, and the result was a 49-34 victory for the Vikings.

WC remained in second place in the race for the Division 6-5A lead.

“The reason I did that was because we played them in a man-to-man the first time,” WC coach Jesse Johnson said. “They did pretty well against that, but they struggled against (the zone) the second half. I said, Let’s go zone the whole game this time.’

“We gave up a tough loss to Forest Hill, and that kind of hurt us. We felt this was a must-win for us, and we came out and executed well.”

The Bulldogs (5-6, 1-2) had just one field goal in the third quarter.

“I don’t know it just confused us a lot,” guard DaMorris Merrick said. “We didn’t execute enough to score. It would have gotten our momentum up if we could have made a shot.

“It would have really boosted us. We were expecting a zone because we watched it on film. They felt they played better in a zone than they did a man.”

The Bulldogs got a field goal out of Tyrone Butler less than two minutes into the second half before everything dried up. Although Michael Chatman tossed in two free throws with 3:31 left to trim the lead to 27-23, the Vikings called a timeout and picked up the intensity a bit.

“We just upped the intensity defensively and made some crucial steals,” Johnson said. “We turned that into some easy points.”

Cody Grant and Seddrick Williams led the Vikings with 11 points each, and Chico Hunter added 10.

(G) Natchez 60, WC 58

In this type of situation, one can swallow a 14-of-35 performance from the free throw line.

Kamesha Sproulls hit two free throws with 13 seconds left to give the Lady Bulldogs a surprising win over Warren Central Friday night in Division 6-5A play.

If it was up to Sproulls, who missed just one of eight free throws for the game, she could give advice on how it’s done. And besides, the Lady Bulldogs were way too pumped up after handing the Lady Vikes their first loss in division to lament over the missed free throws.

Why bother?

“The game was depending on those free throws,” Sproulls said. “I had to take my time and concentrate on them. When you miss free throws, you get frustrated.

“You have to take your time and relax. I can’t do anything but cry. This is the best feeling in the world.”

The Lady Bulldogs made the free throws when they had to and got some defensive help in overtime to take the two-point win. They were in position to put the game away in regulation, but Warren Central’s Carla Latham drained a 3-pointer just before the buzzer sounded to tie the game at 50-50.

The Lady Bulldogs rallied from nine points down in the third quarter to take the lead when WC standouts Tranyce Peoples and Cookie Johnson went to the bench with foul trouble. The Lady Bulldogs (5-8, 1-2) got a basket from Jasmine Williams to spark a 12-0 run to end the quarter and take a 37-34 lead heading into the fourth quarter.

Johnson led WC with 19 points.

(B) Murrah 68, Vicksburg 63

Vicksburg High came close to its biggest upset of the season.

The Gators (7-12) got 15 points each from Fred Thomas and Sedrick Williams in the five-point defeat.

Cedric Parson and Alfred Patton each scored 10 points in the loss.

Murrah took a commanding 36-20 lead at halftime, but watched as Vicksburg outscored the Mustangs by 11 points in the second half.

(G) Murrah 81, Vicksburg 57

A slow start doomed the Missy Gators (12-7) against second-ranked and defending Class 5A state champion Murrah.

Tiffany Hubbard scored 18 of her game-high 24 points in the second half, and Kristin Ellis netted 10 in the loss.

“Their whole team can play,” said Vicksburg coach Mike Coleman, who was facing the Lady Mustangs for the first time in his career. “They are just tough.”

Murrah led 39-20 at the half, but played the Mustangs to within four points in the second half.

Vicksburg is off until Jan. 20 when it will play host to Forest Hill.

(G) PCA 52, G’ville Christian 29

Annie Beaugh scored a game-high 27 points as the Lady Eagles battered Greenville Christian.

Allison Horn added 12 for the Lady Eagles (16-7)

(B) PCA 45, G’ville Christian 21

Chip Lofton poured in 17 points and Ryan Hoben added 11 as the Eagles won easily.

Porters Chapel held Greenville to seven points in the first half, and held a 26-7 lead at the break.