vidalia — Vidalia High School’s Isiah Thompson was red hot from behind the arc in the first half of the Vikings’ home game against Marksville High School Tuesday night.

Thompson sank four three pointers to help the Vikings keep pace with a very athletic Marksville team in the opening half. But despite Thompson’s 12 first-half points, the Vikings still trailed 26-21 at halftime.

In the second half, Marksville found a solution for Thompson by denying him the ball and not allowing him many open looks, and the Tigers were able to pull away to a comfortable 62-39 victory.

“We got away from what we were doing,” Vidalia head coach Robert Sanders said. “Our shooters got cold, and we didn’t hit many and that closed up the middle.”

Vidalia scored just four points in the third quarter, and Marksville was able to stretch its lead to 39-25 at the end of three periods.

In the fourth quarter the pace of play picked up as Vidalia was trying to claw its way back into the contest, and that allowed Marksville some easy baskets. In the end the Tigers scored 23 points in the fourth quarter to win by 23.

Vidalia’s turnovers played a key role in many of its empty possessions in the game. The Vikings ended the game with 25 turnovers.

The Vikings defense was able to keep them in the game by forcing 24 Tigers’ turnovers, but as Marksville extended its lead the Vikings were forced to change their defense.

“The 2-3 (zone) was beneficial to us,” Sanders said. “It worked most of the game until they started holding the ball.”

Thompson finished the game with 15 points on five made three pointers to lead Vidalia in scoring. Will Robertson scored seven points for the Vikings, while Trey Virgis and Deion Brown each added six points.

Marksville’s Gabriel Alexander was the leading scorer in the game with 17 points, and he also pulled down 11 rebounds. Ledarius Reed scored 16 points for the Tigers, and Colby Augustine added 11.

The loss dropped Vidalia to 10-18 on the season and 3-6 is LHSAA District 3-3A.

The Vikings will travel to face Avoyelles Friday in their final game of the season.

“We just have to keep fighting,” Sanders said.

Marksville girls 62, Vidalia 22

Marksville’s Constance Johnson scored enough points by herself to beat the Vidalia High School girls’ basketball team Tuesday night, but fortunately for Marksville Johnson got plenty of help as well.

Johnson finished with 25 points, and the Lady Tigers had eight players score in their 62-22 win over the Lady Vikings.

Fran Duson led the Lady Vikings with 10 points, Shermel Bell had eight points and Toni and Kisha Swanson each scored two points to account for Vidalia’s points.

The loss dropped the Lady Vikings to 2-19 on the season. They will face Avoyelles Friday.