Height had its advantages for the Vicksburg Missy Gators, while the Vicksburg boys made use of a short, short-handed line-up to complete a sweep of Port Gibson Tuesday night in the opening round of the Coca Cola Tournament at VHS.

The Missy Gators (1-1) got 10 points and 12 rebounds from 6-foot sophomore Taylor Ammons to beat Port Gibson 51-37 in the home debut of new coach Barbara Hartzog.

The VHS boys, playing without starters Brandon Harper and Jonathon Phelps, turned back Port Gibson 63-58.

Both Vicksburg teams will face Natchez in Thursday’s semifinals.

Ammons was a big revelation for the Missy Gators as she helped control the post area both with her rebounding and some well-anticipated steals that led to a handful of transition baskets.

&#8220I like my height now,” Ammons said. &#8220I was able to use it to my advantage and put it to work.”

Ammons’ emergence has put former post Kristin Ellis coming off the bench in a small forward position. Ellis found her groove in the fourth quarter, scoring all eight of her points to help VHS separate from the Wavettes.

&#8220We’re making progress, but it’s still early. It helps to have someone with the size of Taylor,” Hartzog said.

With the game tied at 18, Ammons made two key baskets that put VHS up 22-18. The latter basket came after a steal which she took the length of the court.

&#8220They kept running the same play the whole time, so it was easy to anticipate that pass,” Ammons said.

It was 25-22 at the half and 34-31, heading into the final quarter.

Jazmin Johnson hit a 3-pointer to put VHS up six to start the fourth. A defensive rebound by Ammons started another fast-break, resulting in a basket by Ellis. A steal and layup by Kendra Sims put the Missy Gators up 10 at 41-31.

Nakia Dotson led Port Gibson (0-2) with 11 points.

(B) VHS 63, Port Gibson 58

Gators coach Dellie C. Robinson sat both Harper and Phelps for disciplinary reasons, but the Gators won anyway behind a balanced scoring effort.

Tony Ammons and Lester Davenport each scored 13 while Dan Hyde, a transfer from Kansas who did not play basketball at VHS last year, had 11 along with Fred Williams.

&#8220It was a hard fought game,” Robinson said. &#8220We started out slow because we were playing two or three sophomores who had never played varsity. But our quickness helped us drive to the basket late in the game.”

Port Gibson (1-1) jumped out to a 10-2 lead to open the game but Vicksburg (2-0) came back to get within one at 28-27 by halftime.

Hyde put the Gators ahead with a three-pointer and six points from Davenport helped VHS take a 45-44 lead into the fourth.

(B) Rebul 50, Tallulah 45

Rebul got a game-high 26 pointsfrom Cody Womack to beat Tallulah Academy. Dub Wilhite had 22 to lead the Trojans.