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Ray J. Ransom makes a jump shot in Saturday’s District 2-2A basketball game against Mangham High School Dragons. Ransom led the Vidalia Vikings with 36 points. (Patrick Murphy, The Natchez Democrat)

Kaya Washington attempts to make a shot for Vidalia in the game against Mangham High School on Saturday night. (Patrick Murphy, The Natchez Democrat)

Jamya Smith focuses on making a free throw in the LHSAA District 2-2A game against Mangham High School on Saturday. (Patrick Murphy, The Natchez Democrat)

Vidalia's Kaya Washington tries to take control of the ball between two Mangham High defenders. (Patrick Murphy, The Natchez Democrat)

Vidalia High's Curtis Washington attempts to make a layup during the LHSAA District 2-2A game against Mangham High School on Saturday. (Patrick Murphy, The Natchez Democrat)

Ray J. Ransom shoots his free throws in the fourth quarter of the LHSAA District 2-2A game on Saturday against Mangham High School. Ransom was seven for 10 from the free-throw line. (Patrick Murphy, The Natchez Democrat)

VIDALIA — The Mangham High School Dragons defeated the Vidalia High Vikings 72-71 a LHSAA District 2-2A basketball game.

With 1.3 seconds left, Sadiq Webb made the game-winning layup for the Dragons. Webb scored nine points in the game. Eddie Dunn, head coach of both boys and girls Mangham High teams, said the Dragons missed eight layups in the fourth quarter.

“I felt like we were bound to make something,” Dunn said. “So we made the one that counted.”

Earlier in the fourth quarter, Ray J. Ransom made four free throws in a row, due to a technical foul. Ransom led the Vikings with 36 points.

“The free throws were key in the game, but we still had some time left in the game,” Ransom said. “We have to keep playing down the stretch and get better on decision making.”

Robert Sanders, head coach of Vidalia, said the Vikings played with a lot of heart after being down 9-0 in the first quarter.

“We took the lead going into the fourth quarter and we did a good job of playing defense,” Sanders said. “I don’t like that move at the end. I just told them that we could win by one or three.”

Before the Vikings (5-8) game today against Rayville High School, the first place team in the District 2-2A standings, Sanders said he wants the Vikings to remember to be disciplined on offense.

“Especially if you have the lead down the stretch,” Sanders said. “You don’t have to score every time the ball is in your hands.”

Vidalia plays today at 7 p.m. at Rayville High School.

Vidalia High girls 23,

Mangham High 48

VIDALIA – Behind a 23-point lead in the fourth quarter, the Mangham High Lady Dragons won 48-23 over the Vidalia Lady Vikings on Saturday.

Jamya Smith led the Lady Vikings with 12 points and led in scoring throughout the game.

The Vikings managed to tie the game in the second quarter with four points by Kaya Washington and three points by Smith. Smith said Lady Vikings Head Coach Tema Larry discussed some important things to focus on for the third and fourth quarters.

“The halftime message was about keeping our heads held high and staying focused,” Smith said.

But a loss of focus led to a quiet Lady Vikings squad in the third quarter. Vidalia scored three points in the third quarter while Mangham High scored 15 points. Dunn said the Lady Dragons played well in the second half and kept the Vikings quiet.

“We made some adjustments and isolated a couple of people that we thought were primarily their ball handlers and made it hard on them,” Dunn said. “We tried to make the game easier.”

Vidalia travels to Rayville High School today to play at 5 p.m.

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