The Vicksburg High basketball team simply wants to have fun playing summer basketball.

And the Gators seem to be doing so.

While defeating Jackson Academy at home 48-18 Monday in a summer league game, it was a chance to implement skills worked on since the end of the 2015-16 season, with defensive pressure being a top priority.

Wherever the ball traveled on the court, there were at least two Gators ready to pick off passes and agitate any ball handlers bringing the ball into half court or the paint.

“We’re working on our press this summer and we definitely was able to get some pressure and we believe if we’re going to be successful we have to run and press. We certainly did a good job tonight. We’re going to continue to work on that and see what happens,” Vicksburg coach Dellie Robinson said.

Coach Robinson has also worked with 6-foot-6-inch Kirk Parker on his post moves, which Parker displayed with hook-jumpers in the paint while also showcasing his rebounding skills with tip ins at the rim.

Parker’s physical stature attracts the double team from opponents leaving a Gator open for a shot. Robinson wants the offense to remain fluid with players cutting to the basket instead of standing around watching the ball in Parker’s hands.

“What we’re doing now is making sure when Kirk catch it and someone is cutting to the basket to make sure we keep that pressure off him as much as possible,” Robinson said.

The Gators struggled shooting the ball last season, which limited the Gators’ offense when Parker was being doubled. After the season, the Gators spent 30 minutes during fourth period solely working on this problem.

Robinson credited Kamari and Kardell English, Raheam Moore and Denterious Richardson with improved jumpers.

“We got some three-point shooters this year. We got some folk that’s going to be able to keep them off Kirk and that’s going to make Kirk a better player down inside because of our three-point shooting,” Robinson said.

The series of summer league games gives players a chance to show Robinson they can play and have fun at the same time. The team practices twice a week preparing for the month-long league. It’s an opportunity for Robinson to build a cohesive unit at a time where football players such as Moore and Parker are balancing summer workouts in both sports.

“When we come back together then we’ll be on the same page,” Robinson said. “(Kirk and Raheam) are doing a super job this summer for us so when we get back we’re going to be looking for great things out of them. Both of them have improved during the summer.”