Wingfield coach Herman Sanders used something from his past as a player at Mississippi Valley State to help his team take a 77-71 win at Vicksburg Tuesday night, spoiling a career night for VHS’ Jonathan Phelps.

Sanders’ plan was to hopefully wear down Phelps, who scored a career-high 40 points, by the fourth quarter. It worked because the Gator guard had two key missed free throws with 1 minute, 31 seconds left that could’ve broken a critical drought.

&#8220His dad (Michael) was the same way,” Sanders said. &#8220When he was at Alcorn and I played against him when I was at Valley. He’d come out smoking and we’d just try to wear him down. That’s why I ran two guards at Jonathan, hoping to wear him down.

&#8220I think when he missed those two free throws there late in the fourth quarter was because he was tired. We had worn him down.”

Phelps had 37 points when he stepped to the line with the Gators (11-5) guarding a 68-67 lead. Following the misses, Wingfield’s Chris Wallace hit a 15-footer in the lane to give the Falcons their first lead since midway through the first quarter.

The Gators missed opportunities to either tie the game or take the lead, and could not find the answer.

Wingfield iced the game with a basket from Ananza Richardson, who had 24 points, and two free throws by Jermaine Mallett.

&#8220We had to have someone step up and score,” said VHS coach Dellie C. Robinson, whose team went more than three minutes without a point after taking a 68-61 lead with 3:41 remaining. Wingfield scored the next 13 points until Phelps’ 3-pointer made it 74-71 with 9.6 seconds left. The basket gave Phelps an even 40 points.

Robinson would’ve preferred 39 with two free throw makes.

&#8220We missed those two shots and a 1-and-1 before that,” Robinson said. &#8220We’ve got to make those. If we do, we can do some different things. We got down and then we have to go man on defense and you don’t want to have to play Wingfield man-to-man.”

The taller Falcons, led by 6-foot, 10-inch center Maurice Bolden, held a 30-21 edge in rebounds. Vicksburg, however, used solid shooting through three quarters to build a 12-point lead at 53-41 with 2:47 left in the third quarter.

The Gators who will return to Division 3-5A play Friday at home against Greenville-Weston.

(G) Wingfield 42, VHS 40

Ill-advised shots in the final two minutes cost the Missy Gators (9-7) a win against visiting Wingfield.

Vicksburg was up 40-38 and had the ball when Kamiko Martin missed a tough 3-pointer from the corner.

Wingfield tied the game at 40 with 1:12 to play. The Missy Gators ran the clock down to 19 seconds when Taylor Ammons forced a 12-footer.

The shot failed to draw iron and Wingfield (9-7) raced down court after the rebound. April Bryant’s shot from 8 feet gave the Lady Falcons the lead for good with nine seconds left.

Martin had 14 points to lead VHS. Kaomi Hutton and Lorean Shoulders had 10 each for Wingfield.