The 2000-2001 Vidalia Vikings varsity basketball team has the difficult task of trying to duplicate what the 1999-2000 team accomplished.

Not least among those accomplishments are a 29-4 overall record and a second-place record of 6-2 in District 3-2A. Vidalia lost to defending state champion Coushatta in the first round of the playoffs.

Among the key players returning this season are senior and last season’s leading team scorer Jarvis Vaughn (6-4, 170), who averaged 20.3 points, 10.1 rebounds and 3.7 assists a game and was named second team All-State.

&uot;He plays all five positions, but mainly at small forward,&uot; head coach Robert Sanders said.

Also returning are junior point guard Jessie Banks (5-9, 150), who averaged 2.6 points, 1.2 rebounds and 2.2 assists a game; senior shooting guard Kenny Warner (6-0, 167), who averaged 6.3 points, 2.6 rebounds and 1.1 assists a game; senior post player Derrick P. Johnson (6-2, 147), who averaged 8.5 points, 3.9 rebounds and 1.3 rebounds a game; and sophomore wingman Alfred Warner (6-2, 195), who averaged 4.4 points and 2.1 rebounds a game.

Sanders said the players coming off the bench this season include sophomore post player David T. Wilson (6-2, 158), freshman Louis McNulty (6-3, 200), sophomore Josh Bush (6-5, 185), sophomore Jessie Lyles (5-8, 145) and sophomore Roderick Randall (5-10, 135).

&uot;Inexperience in the backup role is the area I’m most concerned about,&uot; Sanders said.

Vidalia’s 2000-2001 team may have a hard time not only trying to match the success of the 1999-2000 team, but also winning the district title.

&uot;It’ll be a challenge because we lost six seniors from last year’s team,&uot; Sanders said. &uot;McCall didn’t lose but one or two seniors. And there’s always Ferriday.&uot;

He said the strengths of this season’s team are quickness and height.

&uot;We’re a little taller than we were in the past,&uot; he said.

Sanders also said that if his players &uot;put their minds to it, they can be competitive and compete for first place.&uot;

Vidalia’s season begins Nov. 11 with the Concordia Jamboree at Ferriday.