In February, the Vicksburg Missy Gators’ loss to Holmes County Central might have been devastating.

In November it still stings, but there’s a whole season ahead to learn from it.

Sha Sha Giles made a game-winning layup as time expired, as Holmes handed the Missy Gators their first loss of the season 77-75 on Tuesday.

Giles’ basket came after Vicksburg’s Zion Harvey missed her own potential game-winner with about five seconds left. Holmes grabbed the long rebound and passed it to Giles, who streaked down the floor for the uncontested buzzer-beater.

“We’re going to learn from every loss. Every team does that,” Vicksburg coach Troy Stewart said. “There are a lot of takeaways. There are things we need to go back and work on. I saw a lot of things we need to fix and mend. But all in all, the girls played extremely well. It was a hard fought game and we just came up on the short end of the stick.”

The Missy Gators (3-1) led 62-52 at the end of the third quarter, then lost a war of attrition in the fourth. Each team had three players foul out. Vicksburg’s were starters Cynia Johnson, Ny’Keria Watson and Carjessa Albert, who combined to score 25 points. Johnson led the group with 17.

Harvey carried the Missy Gators offensively as the foul trouble mounted — she scored 15 of her game-high 35 points in the third quarter — but eventually fatigue and having to go so deep into the bench caught up to she and her teammates.

Holmes took a 74-72 lead on two free throws by Ratasia Greer with 2:04 to go, and the teams mostly traded free throws and turnovers the rest of the way.

“Everybody ran out of gas. My entire team,” Stewart said.

Harvey made two free throws with 25.8 seconds left to tie the game at 75, and a Holmes turnover gave the Missy Gators the ball with a chance to win it.

They held for the last shot, and Harvey took it — but missed a couple seconds too soon. It was just enough time for Giles to get the outlet pass and break the Missy Gators’ hearts at the buzzer.

It was Giles’ only basket of the game. Greer led Holmes with 23 points before fouling out.

“I was trying to hold for the last shot and I don’t know if we lost track of time or she thought she was being fouled and she got it up in the air. She thought she was going to the line,” Stewart said. “Missed the shot, they got the rebound, and finished on the other end.”

Vicksburg will play again Thursday at 6 p.m., on the road in South Jackson against Forest Hill.

St. Aloysius 37, Humphreys Academy 26
Olivia Larsen had a game-high 14 points to lead St. Aloysius (2-0) past Humphreys Academy.

Taryn Lusby added nine points, Megan Theriot scored seven to go along with five steals, and Farrell Roberson had eight steals for the Lady Flashes.

St. Al will play again Thursday at 6 p.m., at home against Riverfield Academy.

Tuesday’s boys game was canceled because Humphreys is still in the football playoffs and did not have enough players available.