By PATRICK MURPHY

and PATRICK JONES

VIDALIA — In the last seven seconds of Thursday night’s boys’ varsity basketball game, the Block High School Bears made a game-winning layup to win 73-71 over the Vidalia High School Vikings.

The Vikings had a chance to win it. Vikings Head Coach Robert Sanders said he had called a timeout to set up the play.

“I didn’t want any of my players to do anything crazy,” Sanders said. “The out of bounds play wasn’t set up right. A guard, that I didn’t want to get the ball, got it and he must have frozen up and thrown the ball away.”

When the guard threw the ball away, Devon Green intercepted the ball and made the game-winning layup for the Bears. Bears Head Coach Terry Russ said the Bears were prepared for the situation and the players worked hard to earn the victory.

Block took an early 3-point lead to end the first quarter and the Bears led, 16-13.

Both teams seemed like they were evenly matched, scoring 21 points and 15 points each in the second and third quarters.

As a whole, Roderick Ransom scored 43 points for the Vikings. Russ said the Vikings played well against the Bears.

“They [Vikings] have an excellent team,” Russ said. “Ransom was a very hard guy to defend. I had to put several defenders on him during several times in the game.”

Second in scoring for the Vikings was Christian Wright with 12 points and Jashun Gordan was third on the team with eight points.

For Block, Dexture Jefferson led the Bears with 19 points, Tylik Davis was second on the team with 11 points and Tamaugh Wyckoff scored 10 points for third on the team for scoring in the game.

Block’s next game is Monday night at 6 at Family Community Christian. Meanwhile, Vidalia’s next game is on Dec. 5 at the Tensas Tournament against Delta Charter.

Cathedral boys 42, WCCA 38 (Thursday)

NATCHEZ — JC Harris and Jordan Henry helped lead a furious comeback by Cathedral High School in the second half as the Green Wave defeated the Wilkinson County Christian Academy Rams 42-38 Thursday night for its first win of the season.

After a back-and-forth first quarter that ended with WCCA clinging to a 13-11 lead, the Rams held the Green Wave to just three points in the second quarter and took a 20-14 lead into halftime.

However, the Green Wave would respond by outscoring the Rams 10-5 in the third quarter and 18-13 in the fourth quarter. It was also WCCA’s first loss of the season.

Harris led all scorers with 13 points while Henry finished with 11 points. Kaden Batieste chipped in with seven points for Cathedral.

WCCA (4-1) was led by RJ Fisher with 12 points and Nate Mudd with eight points. The Rams are off until Tuesday, Dec. 3, when they host Tensas Academy at 7:30 p.m.

Cathedral (1-3) played at archrival St. Aloysius High School last Friday night (see story and pictures on page 8 today).

Cathedral girls 44, WCCA 33 (Thursday)

NATCHEZ — Cate Drane led the Cathedral High School Lady Green Wave with a game-high 14 points and Ryleigh Probst added 11 points as they defeated the Wilkinson County Christian Academy Lady Rams 44-33 Thursday night.

Alexis June led the Lady Rams with 10 points and Neely Passinger finished with eight points.

WCCA (1-4) next plays on Tuesday, Dec. 3, when it plays host to Tensas Academy at 6 p.m. Cathedral (4-2) traveled to Vicksburg to take on archrival St. Aloysius High School last Friday night.