[12/17/04] Sedrick Williams simply would not let the Vicksburg Gators lose Thursday night’s showdown with No. 9 Madison Central.

The senior guard scored a game-high 32 points, sank 10-of-11 free throws and insured the victory with a pair of free throws with 3.3 seconds left in a thrilling 77-73 win.

“We lost two straight district games, then we lost another,” Williams said. “I told them we weren’t going to lose anymore. This is a ranked team and this will give us respect. They can worry about us instead of us worrying about them.”

Williams, who was held scoreless in the second quarter, netted 18 points in the fourth quarter. He also hit five 3-pointers.

“We knew from the beginning we had to stick with him,” said Madison (9-2) coach Stan Heath. “We got behind and had to pressure a little more and that opened some things up for him. He’s a great player and I told our guys before the game you can’t let great players beat us, and he did that today.”

Vicksburg led 75-70 with 10 seconds to play before Chad Akins hit the last of his four 3-pointers to get the Jaguars to within two with four seconds to play. Williams was then fouled, hit both free throws and Madison missed a 3-point attempt as the buzzer sounded.

As a team, the Gators were 25-for-30 from the free throw line, and the five starters four of whom scored in double figures only missed two free throws combined.

“We lost three tough games that we could have won and I think we lost some confidence,” VHS coach Dellie C. Robinson said. “The kids are playing hard, we just couldn’t find a way to get over the hump. Hopefully, tonight we did that.”

Brandon Harper scored 18 points for Vicksburg while Johnny Markham scored 12 and Edwin Gaskin netted 11.

Madison Central center Malcoln Kirkland scored 16 points, but with three minutes left in the game, he was whistled for his second technical foul for hanging on the rim on dunk attempts.

“When the big boy went out, we could really get up and defend without having to worry about the post so much,” Robinson said.

The Gators (8-7) are scheduled to play at Humphreys County on Tuesday.

“We weren’t going to lose tonight, not this game,” Williams said. “Coach told us he wanted an early Christmas present and tonight we gave it to him.”

(G) VHS 55, Madison 52

Rachel Jenkins’ near-perfect performance helped the Missy Gators (7-8) to a win over Madison Central (5-7).

Jenkins hit 8-of-9 shots from the field and sank her only free throw for a team-high 17 points. She also led the team with 11 rebounds.

“We have no one on our schedule that is easy, so we have to come out and play hard every game,” the sophomore said.

Cre’Tarsha Taylor added 10 points for Vicksburg, and Kendra Sims scored 9.

The Lady Jaguars connected on 10-of-23 3-pointers and erased a 14-point Vicksburg lead.

Ashlee Curtis nailed five 3-pointers and scored a game-high 19 points.

“On the film we had, we knew 22 and 23 could shoot them. That must have been the game (Curtis) didn’t play,” said VHS coach Mike Coleman. “I didn’t have a clue about number 32.”

Curtis also plays soccer for MC and occasionally misses games, Coleman said.

She hit four 3-pointer in a row in the third quarter and sliced the lead to as little as three before VHS went to a diamond-and-one defense. She only hit one more 3-pointer the rest of the way.”