JACKSON — With half the season in the books, the Warren Central Vikings are beginning to form their team identity.

It’s not one that their coach likes.

Warren Central overcame a 20-point deficit to force overtime, but Jim Hill’s Eric Vaughn hit a game-winning jumper with six seconds left to beat the Vikings 53-52 in a consolation game of the Jackson Public Schools Tournament.

It was the second day in a row that WC lost by one point, following a 48-47 defeat against Lanier on Friday. In both games it had the ball last and couldn’t pull out the win. After missing two potential game-winners in the last 10 seconds against Lanier, the Vikings couldn’t get a shot off at the end of regulation and never got a good look in overtime following Vaughn’s basket.

WC also blew a lead in another consolation game Friday night before beating Canton 48-40.

“Last year we were winning one-point games. This year, we just haven’t developed the toughness to win them,” WC coach Bruce Robinson said. “Players have to be held accountable for their roles and what they do on the court.”

The Vikings (7-9) didn’t score in the first quarter against Jim Hill and trailed by as many as 20 in the first half. They mounted their comeback in the second and finally tied it up with about three minutes left.

After failing to get a shot off at the end of regulation, WC was called for a travel while holding a one-point lead with 15 seconds left in overtime. That led to Vaughn’s game-winner, and another wasted possession as the final horn sounded.

Vaughn finished with six points for Jim Hill, Derrick Burt scored 12 and Kenneth Knight had 11.

Shaunterrence Walton led Warren Central with 22 points and Mario Doyle scored 12. Chris Stamps and Larry Ferguson had nine each. No one else scored a point, which was something Robinson said needs to change heading into the division opener Jan. 2 at home against Greenville.

“It goes back to effort. We hadn’t been putting forth the effort, and we need to find the right combination out there,” Robinson said. “You can’t coach effort. We have to figure out who’s going to put forth the effort and who wants to be out there.”