VIDALIA, La. – In a game that was everything a cross-county rivalry is supposed to be, the Ferriday Trojans edged the Vidalia Vikings 89-82 in overtime in the final game of the Ronnie Brown Invitational Tournament Chamionship.

&uot;Our coach pushed us, but we enhanced what we learned,&uot; said

Ferriday’s Marvin Harper. &uot;I have no doubt that we excelled and pushed ourselves, so we can be proud of our victory.&uot;

The game was close from the beginning, and at the half, Vidalia had only a one point lead.

In a third quarter series that was characteristic of the entire game, a steal by Ferriday’s Jason Scott was followed by a steal by Vidalia’s Jarvis Vaughn. The ball was then promptly stolen back by Ferriday’s Jackie Thomas, who scored. The quarter ended with Vidalia in the lead, 47-42.

Both teams’ leading scorers – Vaughn, who scored 23 for the Vikings, and Ferriday’s Scott, who finished with 37 – fouled out in the fourth quarter.

&uot;Our coach told us never to depend on just one person but to act as a team,&uot; said Ferriday’s Calvin Thomas.

Marques Webber’s 5-for-7 performance from the free-throw line – most of which occured in overtime – helped Ferriday finish on top.

&uot;We want to thank God for our victory,&uot; said Ferriday’s assisstant coach Derrick White. &uot;We prayed before and after the game. I am very proud of our team.&uot;

Vidalia coach Robert Sanders said that he expected the last period of the game to turn into a free throw period.

&uot;I was proud of our reserve players,&uot; he said. &uot;They proved that they have the confidence to play a good game.&uot;