Vidalia junior center Jarvis Vaughn takes off on a fast break with one or no defender to stop what’s coming next. The agile 6-foot-3, 175-pound takes off from just past the free throw line defies gravity for several seconds and comes down throwing the basketball through the goal with his hand hitting the rim so hard that it shakes the goal foundation.

It’s a typical Vaughn dunk. And it’s happened 26 times this year.

&uot;I love to dunk,&uot; Vaughn said.

And the team seems to love to see him doing it.

&uot;The team seems to feed off of his dunks,&uot; said Vidalia coach Robert Sanders. &uot;They try to set him up. That’s a good and bad thing.&uot;

So far Vaughn has not missed on a dunk.

‘That would be embarrassing, but I would let that go and try again to make one of them,&uot; he said. &uot;I don’t plan on missing one though.&uot;

Second-ranked Vidalia started out the season 17-0 before losing to Natchez last week. The Vikings dropped their District 3-2A opener to McCall Tuesday.

&uot;It’s been a great season,&uot; said Vaughn who was whistled for three fouls in the first quarter against the Dragons. &uot;We should still be undefeated, but as long as we can win the games when it counts. I’d rather lose one now than one later when it comes down to the district championship or in the playoffs.&uot;

Vaughn said he wasn’t surprised the Vikings started out 17-0.

&uot;Me and Ron (Ellis) were talking before the season about how good we could be,&uot; Vauhgn said.

Vaughn leads the Vikings in scoring with a 21.4 per game average. He is averaging 10.4 rebounds, has 36 blocks and 105 steals.

Vaughn attended Natchez Middle School before transferring to Vidalia in the seventh grade. He returned to Natchez as an eight-grader before going back to Vidalia as a freshman.

&uot;Coach (assistant Viking coach Damus) Smith told me I should play, so I started playing,&uot; Vaughn said. &uot;And now I’m a Viking for life.’

Vaughn said he learned the game on the playground.

&uot;I used to play with all of my friends and we had some older guys so I had to get physical,&uot; he said. &uot;Everybody was trying to teach me to play and I listened.&uot;

Vaughn has started all 22 games this year.

&uot;I&160;feel like more of a leader,&uot; he said. &uot;I try to get everybody doing right and staying focused.&uot;

Vaughn said he would prefer playing somewhere else besides center, but wants to help the team.

&uot;I just like getting the ball and trying to score,&uot; he said. &uot;One good thing about center is that sometimes the ball comes off the rim and I can grab it and get an easy basket.&uot;

Vidalia lost to McCall in the first round of the Class 2A playoffs last year.

&uot;Last year a lot of people weren’t really focused,&uot; Vaughn said. &uot;We want to win a championship this year and this is the best team we’ve had here since I’ve been here.&uot;

Vaughn said he has heard talk about the 1979 Vidalia team that won state.

&uot;But not as much since we’ve been winni ng,&uot; he said.

Vaughn is already receiving letters from colleges.

&uot;I’d love to play college basketball.

But he admits before going off to college, there is one dunk he would like to make.

&uot;I want to do a 360 (degrees), but I haven’t had a chance to do that yet,&uot; he said.