Vicksburg’s Brandon Harper accidentally pops teammate Johnny Markham, bottom right, in the face while Hinds AHS’ Joseph White, top, goes after a loose ball. (Jon GiffinThe Vicksburg Post)

[12/28/2004] RAYMOND The growth curve for the youthful Vicksburg boys basketball team bounced upward Monday when the Gators knocked off Hinds AHS 56-53 on the opening night of the Raymond High Round Robin Tournament.

Brandon Harper’s putback of a missed layup gave the Gators the winning margin with seven seconds left over the top-ranked team in Class 2A.

Hinds AHS’ Mario Webb missed a desperation 35-footer that would have forced overtime.

“That was huge,” said Vicksburg coach Dellie C. Robinson of Harper’s rebound and putback. “The difference for us was our offensive rebounding.

“It’s really kind of the same story with us. We’re going to have a lot of close games because we’re not good enough to blow anybody out. In our last two games, we had a big win by one at Madison Central and then came back and lost a one-pointer at Humphreys County.”

Vicksburg improves to 9-8 on the season and will play Raymond tonight at 8:30 in the second of three tournament games.

“We didn’t do the small things and one of those things was getting that last rebound. It was at a crucial moment of the game and we missed that big rebound,” said Hinds AHS coach Keith Williams, whose team fell to 14-2.

Sederick Williams led Vicksburg with 13 points.

“This wasn’t our best game. We’ll have to play better tomorrow,” Williams said. “We made mistakes. I missed some layups including that last one, but (Brandon) saved me on that play.”

The Gators got off to a quick start with a 15-5 lead but the Bulldogs rallied with a 12-0 run to go up 17-15 early in the second quarter.

Robinson called time and the Gators came back with 10 straight points to go up 25-17. It was 27-24 at the half.

Vicksburg went up seven at 33-26 only to see Hinds forge a pair of ties at 33-all and 37-all.

Late in the third quarter, Edwin Gaskin hit a shot from the free throw line and Jonathan Phelps notched a six-footer in the lane for a 41-37 lead.

Hinds got a basket from JaCorey Wright to open the fourth for a 42-41 edge, but it was the Bulldogs’ last lead of the night.

Harper had 13 to match Williams, while Gaskin chipped in 12 and Phelps added 10. Hinds was paced by Joseph White with 15 points, and Mario Webb with 14.

(G) Vicksburg 71, HAHS 64

Vicksburg had to use its rebounding strength to put away the Lady Bulldogs.

The Missy Gators improved to 9-8 on the season and will face host Raymond tonight at 7. Hinds AHS slips to 12-3 and will play Ridgeland this afternoon.

“Hinds was about a step quicker than us, so it’s exciting stuff for us to get this win,” Vicksburg coach Mike Coleman said. “Our rebounding was real good in second half.”

Vicksburg trailed 48-43 midway through the third quarter, but scored six straight capped by a basket from Kendra Sims to go up 49-48 heading into the final quarter.

Sims added five points in a key stretch in the fourth to extend a 55-51 lead to 60-51. The Missy Gators then made enough free throws in the final 1:30 to take the win.

Vicksburg won despite making just 15 of 36 shots from the foul line. The Missy Gators, however, did post five players in double figures.

Rachel Jenkins led VHS with 19 points. Cre’Tarsha Taylor had 12 followed by Sims with 11. Ellis and Tiffany Williams each had 10.

Tanesha Clark led Hinds with 17 points, followed by Jennica Thames with 16 and Ciera Davis with 15.