Vidalia High School and Avoyelles are separated by just one spot in the latest LHSAA Class 3A power rankings.

And on the Tuesday night, they demonstrated just how tightly matched the two squads are.

Twenty-fifth ranked Avoyelles edged out No. 26 Vidalia 60-57 to earn a district win in boys basketball.

The Vikings had a chance to tie the game at the end, but Demarco Brown’s desperation 3-point heave banged hard off the backboard.

“We just didn’t quite have enough,” Vidalia coach Robert Sanders said.

The key stretch came in the second period for the Mustangs (14-13, 6-7) as they outscored the Vikings 20-7 to build a 32-23 halftime lead.

Avoyelles eventually pushed its lead to as many as 15 before the Vikings came roaring back late in the third.

“We just dug ourselves too deep of a hole,” Sanders said.

Vidalia managed to tie the game, 45-45, after a pair of free throws from Ray J. Ransom with seven minutes remaining.

The Vikings shot 12 of 22 from the free throw line. The Mustangs connected on just 3 of 12 attempts.

Brown led Vidalia with 21 points, but was rather quiet up until the final period. The senior forward scored 11 of his points in the fourth. Jarred Turner had 15 and DeMikal McCoy had 11 to help carry the load until Brown got going.

“We knew they were going to key in on Demarco,” Sanders said. “We’ve been preaching all year for players to step up, and those are the two that did.”

Dai’Quan Berry led Avoyelles in scoring with 20 points, while Steven Robertson had 11.

Vidalia has a chance to cement its playoff place Friday in its final home game of the year when it hosts No. 5 Jena. The Giants narrowly topped the Vikings 54-50 on Jan. 24.

“We’re in decent shape (to make the playoffs), but we have to win Friday to remain decent,” Sanders said. “We have to make our layups and free throws.”