FERRIDAY, La. – Surely Robert Sanders didn’t think his Vidalia Vikings would survive to defend their Ferriday High Tournament crown, when his team was staring down the barrel of an 11-point deficit with 7:24 left in the game.

But the Vikings rallied, held the ball by spreading the floor, and two clutch free throws by Jessie Banks with 10.2 seconds left, sealed a 58-56 win over a scrappy Wilkinson County squad.

It also stamped another battle in the finals, where the Vikings (10-1) will face off against the host Trojans tonight.

&uot;I was pretty nervous, but we needed them, so I just stepped up and put them down,&uot; said Banks, who finished the night with 12 points. &uot;I tried not to think about it too much.&uot;

He was aided by some big play from swingman Ajay Warner, who found a way to score some big baskets in the final frame on the way to 23 points.

&uot;This team seems like they prefer to play from behind,&uot; Sanders said. Wilkinson County head coach Henry Storey, whose team fell to 7-5 wasn’t as cheery. &uot;I’m really ticked that we let a lead like that slip away. That’s unacceptable.&uot;

Josh Bush added nine and Jessie Lyles eight, for VHS, who hit 20-of-32 from the foul line. Kenny Knight paced the Wildcats with 15, while Bryant Spiller chipped in with 12.

Ferriday’s girls roll into final

Although they made it look easy again, Lisa Abron knows her Ferriday Lady Trojans still have plenty of work to do. And tonight might show her just how much, when Ferriday takes on Block, as a result of an easy 84-45 whitewashing of Vidalia.

&uot;We were able to dominate early, which is what we have been doing these last few games, but we are going to have to improve on free throw shooting.&uot; Despite big efforts from Monique Jones, who tallied a game-high 25 points, the Lady Trojans sank just 6-of-21 from the charity stripe. &uot;We’ve got to do much better than that tonight,&uot; Abron admitted. Beyond that, there wasn’t much that stopped FHS, as Lashawnda Pryor dumped in 20 points and Torisheka Taylor added 10.

For defending tourney champ Vidalia (4-5), Katrina Singleton was the main source of offense, with 13, and Latoya Burden added 11.

Ferriday High Invitational Basketball Tournament

Varsity Girls Semifinal

Ferriday 84, Vidalia 45

FHS 23 26 18 17 – 84

VHS 8 13 11 13 – 45

Ferriday: Monique Jones – 25; Lashawnda Pryor – 20; Torisheka Taylor – 10; Rosalind Johnson – 9; Latasha Cain – 8; Rashonda Leonard – 6; Keanna Green – 4; Davika Griffin – 2

Vidalia: Katrina Singleton – 13; Latoya Burden – 11; Lashunda Mitchell – 8; Gemecia Williams – 5; Ramona Washington – 4; Tiffany Fleming – 2; Shemica Williams – 2

Ferriday High Invitational Basketball Tournament

Varsity Boys Semifinal

Vidalia 58, Wilkinson County 56

VHS 10 28 3 17 – 58

WCHS 11 20 17 8 – 56

Vidalia: Ajay Warner – 23; Jessie Banks – 12; Josh Bush – 9; Jessie Lyles – 8; Tony Hawkins – 4; Roderick Randall – 2

Wilkinson County: Kenny Knight – 15; Bryant Spiller – 12; Lawarren Seiber – 9; Peter Lollis – 8; Angelo Johnson – 7; Travis Dent – 5