In a battle of wits on Tuesday between two of Mississippi’s top coaches, the team that got the lead in the fourth quarter would likely get a victory.

That team was Yazoo City. The visiting Indians, under the direction of veteran coach Archie Carlyle, made two baskets early in the fourth quarter to get the lead and then held on to win a 33-27 defensive struggle.

The loss was the fifth straight for Vicksburg (9-14) as it heads to next week’s Division 3-6A Tournament. The Gators wrap up the regular season at home Friday against Brandon.

Vicksburg coach Dellie C. Robinson said while his team continued to struggle against the zone defense, it was breakdowns on the defensive end that caused the latest loss.

“We were confused there in the fourth quarter and we gave up the baseline on one of the baskets that put us behind,” Robinson said. “We know everybody is going to play us zone. When Yazoo City stretched out its zone, we didn’t have an answer.”

The game was tied at 11 at the half and at 22 going into the fourth quarter. Ladarius Dran hit a jumper from the free throw line and Johnny Rucker made a drive off the baseline for a 25-21 lead.

Vicksburg finally got a basket with just four minutes left from Romeo Carter. Robinson opted to break his zone defense for more pressure. Yazoo City countered by running a back cut to the goal with Corey Cox making the layup for a 27-23 lead with 2:42 left.

Cox later made four free throws in the final 37.4 seconds to ice the game.

Carlyle said he tried to stay with his 2-3 zone as long as he could against Vicksburg.

“They are too quick,” Carlyle said of the Gators. “I was really glad to have the lead and make them chase us.”

Cox led the Indians (18-8) with 12 points. Rucker had nine.

Edward Davis paced Vicksburg with 10 points, five steals and two assists. No other Gator scored more than five points and the team made just 10 of 27 shots from the field.