It wasn’t supposed to end this soon — again. Vidalia High senior Dariel Mays saw his prep career come to an end Friday night as the Viking basketball team fell to defending state champion Coushatta in a first round Class 2A playoff game in Vidalia.

&uot;Right now I’m feeling kind of down and depressed,&uot; Mays said late Saturday. &uot;It really hurt losing in the first round. And then when I think about football ending early, it’s even harder.&uot;

Vidalia, 28-4 and ranked in the top five, finished second in District 3-2A.

Vidalia finished behind McCall and ahead of Ferriday. McCall beat Springhill 99-72, while Ferriday upset Opelousas Catholic 99-72.

Coushatta’s Anthony Smith sank two free throws with 2.1 seconds remaining in overtime to give the Choctaws a 71-69 win.

&uot;They had real good height and all of them could jump,&uot; Mays said.

Vidalia’s top scorers, Jarvis Vaughn and Ronald Ellis fouled out, along with top reserve A.J. Warner.

With three players out, Mays drove down an open lane to put Vidalia up 59-58 with 2:42 to play in regulation, which ended tied at 61-61.

The Choctaws scored a quick basket in overtime, but Mays tied it up at 63-63 after an Andre Singleton steal.

Vidalia missed a shot, but got it back on a turnover and Mays tied the game at 69-69 with 7.2 to play. Smith got a pass inside and was fouled with 2.1 left. He sank both free throws.

&uot;I still thought we could pull it out after we had guys foul out,&uot; Mays said. &uot;I knew I had to step it up because they were not on the floor. When I hit the shot with seven seconds left I thought we would go another overtime and beat them.&uot;

Vidalia lost to Christian Life in the second round of the Class 2A playoffs in football.

The 5-foot-9, 150-pound Mays finished the season with 2,265 rushing yards on 278 carries and scored 33 touchdowns. He also caught 27 passes for 495 yards for the 10-2 Vikings.

Mays’ 2,265 yards was the most ever by a Vidalia running back in a single season. Woodside rushed for 2,225 in 1981.

Mays said breaking Woodside’s record was the top highlight.

&uot;That and our teams having a great year in football and basketball,&uot; he said.

Mays said he knows he look back later and appreciate what the Vikings accomplished in football and basketball.

&uot;I know that later on I’ll be able to think about all of the highlights,&uot; he said. &uot;It may take about four months.&uot;

Mays is waiting on his latest ACT score to decide where he will attend college.

&uot;If I make the required score on my ACT, I’m going to LSU,&uot; he said. &uot;If not, I’ll probably attend Nicholls State and walk on the football team there.&uot;f