Vidalia sweeps Tensas on the road

Published 2:09 pm Thursday, December 14, 2023

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JOSEPH, La. — Vidalia High School point guard Lyric Warner led a balanced scoring attack for the Lady Vikings with 16 points as they used a big run over the second and third quarters to defeat the Tensas High School Lady Panthers 48-32 last Tuesday night.

Ella Grace Smith and Makenzie Watson scored eight points apiece while Cara Washington and Chesney Williams contributed with seven points each for Vidalia. The Lady Vikings were only up by two points, 15-13, on Tensas High after one quarter of play before pulling away over the next two quarters.

Vidalia outscored Tensas High 10-1 in the second quarter and 14-6 in the third quarter for a commanding 39-20 lead and to turn a close game at first into a blowout win on the road.

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Lady Vikings head coach Flora McKnight said the team’s defense after quarter number one was a key factor in their win.

“We started playing better defense. And we started moving the ball around on offense,” McKnight said.

Also, McKnight pointed out that Warner stood out for Vidalia offensively while Williams, a 5-2 guard, stood out for the Lady Vikings defensively.

“She (Warner) picked up the pace more and we moved the ball better. When we get out on our fast break, we make the game easy for her,” McKnight said. “Chesney Williams, she’s so quick. She’s got a nose for the basketball. It doesn’t matter, she’s going for the ball. She hustles all the time.”

The Lady Vikings improved to 7-2 overall. They don’t play again until Monday, Dec. 18 when they host Sicily Island High School at 6 p.m.

Vidalia boys 61, Tensas High 42 (Tues. night)

St. JOSEPH, La. — The Tensas High School Panthers hung tough with Vidalia High School for three quarters, but the Vikings dominated the fourth quarter to pull away for a 61-42 win last Tuesday night.

The game was tied at 13-all at the end of the first quarter. Tensas High then outscored Vidalia 12-11 in the second quarter for a 25-24 lead. However, the Vikings responded in a big way after halftime.

Vidalia put up 21 points in the third quarter while Tensas High scored 15 points to give the Vikings a 45-40 lead. The Vikings ramped up the defensive pressure in the fourth quarter as they outscored the Panthers 16-2 for the 19-point win.

The Vikings next played at the Big “E” Tournament at Rayville High School in Rayville, La., which started last Wednesday. Efforts to reach head coach Damus Smith to find out who they would play as well as what day and time were unsuccessful.