SICILY ISLAND, La. &045; Maximizing the most out of premium players sometimes means trying them in different positions on the basketball court.

Unless your birth certificate reads Shaquille O’Neal or Tim Duncan, chances are you’ll get to see life from many views on the hardwood as you develop as a player.

The lesson is learned best for guards, who find their niche away from the point position and at a shooting guard spot.

Such is the case with Vidalia senior Tony Hawkins, who scored 27 points in the Vikings’ 66-48 victory over Newellton at the C.B. Coney Memorial Tournament Wednesday.

&uot;He has moved more into a scoring position, and that showed there in the first quarter,&uot; Vidalia head coach Robert Sanders said of Hawkins, who primarily ran the point a season ago. &uot;He just needs to learn how to be patient and not force shots at times.&uot;

Hawkins abided by his coach’s orders for much of the game, except during the final minute when he flashed in the paint and tried to put the exclamation point of the night with a one-handed flush.

His attempt was promptly swatted away, prompting a smile from Hawkins’ face, which seems always tuned to charismatic.

Hawkins buried 11 first-quarter points, including a hat trick of 3-pointers, to spark a dominant opening eight minutes that saw the Vikings push ahead 23-7.

&uot;Vidalia is a nice team. They’ve got good chemistry,&uot; Bears head coach Carl Washington said. &uot;They still look a little rusty, but even when they’re rusty they’re the team to beat. I take nothing away from their players or coaches.&uot;

Courtesy of a 10-0 run in the game first three minutes, this one was in the books before either team got warmed up, although Vidalia appeared to be comfy from the tip.

The Vikings were full throttle, getting coast-to-cost layups in transition from Hawkins and C.J. Williams, a putback from Robert Walker and a pair of Louis McNulty layups, as the 6-4 post dominated the paint.

&uot;We were kind of surprised that we were able to (jump out so quickly),&uot; Sanders said. &uot;However, much to my dismay we kind of relaxed a bit and let (Newellton) back into it.&uot;

That came on the strength of a 10-0 surge to during the second period’s opening moments that cut the gap to 25-17 with 5:09 left.

Danny Smith and Quentin Jackson hit consecutive treys for the Bears, preceding Marcus Hill’s baseline jumper, which broke the press.

However, without star post Carnel Hill &045; out with several others due to a team suspension, which Washington did not elaborate on &045; eight was as close as Newellton drew.

Sanders spoke reluctantly about his team’s inability to finish off an opponent when it has them lying vulnerable on the mat. He fears that eventually the Vikings’ blas approach will catch up with them. Thus, a huge lead, such as Wednesday night’s, will turn into a loss.

&uot;We weren’t patient enough. Our passes were forced, and we never allowed the offense to set up,&uot; Sanders said. &uot;But we’ll continue to work on that in practices. They’ve gotta learn how to play four quarters.&uot;

Fortunately, the effort was enough, especially when Vidalia exploded out of the gates in the third period to turn the lights out so New Year’s Eve goers could get home to watch Dick Clark.

Williams, who poured in 13 of his own, pushed the Viking lead up to 16, 50-34 when he clanged home a 3-ball with 2:51 left in the third.

&uot;Coach says we have to average four people in double figures each game,&uot; Hawkins said. &uot;We try to do that by spreading the ball around and get others their shots.&uot;

Ferriday 61, Sicily Island 43

Ladrian Davis scored 10 of his game-high 19 points in the fourth quarter, as the Trojans were in control from the first whistle and never looked back.

For one of the first times this season Ferriday (7-5) managed to keep its opponent’s big man from taking over the game.