VIDALIA, La. –&160;Growing up, siblings Ronald and Brendy Ellis helped each other develop their games on a makeshift basketball court in their backyard.

Now they’re both helping their teams to a high ranking in Class 2A.

Ronald, a senior, and Brendy, a junior, are the second-leading scorers on the Vidalia boys and girls basketball teams, which are both currently ranked third in the state.

&uot;I knew we had a good team, but I didn’t think we would get as high as No. 3,&uot; Ronald said of the 28-3 Vikings. &uot;I think this team is the best team I’ve been on since my freshman year when Prentis (Jenkins) played.&uot;

Vidalia’s Lady Vikings are 25-6.

&uot;I’m glad to see us ranked high, but I didn’t expect it,&uot; Brendy said. &uot;But we know each other well. We’ve been playing together since the eighth grade.&uot;

Ronald and Brendy have spent a lot of time in their backyard, playing basketball against each other. Ronald was born in March 1982, while Brendy celebrated her 17th birthday in January.

&uot;We were the only kids around, so we would just go play basketball in the yard,&uot; Brendy said.

The siblings would usually play a game to 24.

&uot;She hasn’t beaten me yet,&uot; Ronald said. &uot;There was one game where I won 24-22.&uot;

&uot;He would always play against me the same way he would against the boys,&uot; Brendy said. &uot;My goal is to beat him. My jumper has to be on.&uot;

The Ellis’ mother, Brenda Logan, coached at Vidalia Junior High, which gave Ronald and Brendy access to the gym at times.

&uot;Brendy would pass me the ball and I would shoot it,&uot; Ronald said. &uot;Then I would do the same for her.&uot;

&uot;He has helped my game a lot,&uot;&160;Brendy said. &uot;And I try to hold him to help him with his dribbling and shooting.&uot;

Ronald said the siblings talk about basketball quite a bit.

&uot;After the game, Brendy will tell me what I did wrong or what I should have done,&uot; Ronald said.

&uot;He always critiques me at halftime and tells me what I need to do and what I’m not doing,&uot; Brendy said. &uot;But he says it in a good way. He knows my potential and what I can do out there.&uot;

Ronald cut his sister no slack on the court growing up, which is one reason for her athleticism and competitiveness.

&uot;I believe it helped her,&uot; Ronald said. &uot;I would push her around and didn’t let her go to the goal.&uot;

Ronald said he has watched Brendy improve quite a bit. The 5-foot-8 Brendy is averaging 16.4 points a game and 8.2 rebounds.

&uot;She needs to play stronger and work on her dribbling,&uot; he said. &uot;She’ll do fine when we are just playing, but then she won’t do as well all the time in a game. But that’s going to come.&uot;

The 6-foot-2, 180-pound Ronald, who is averaging 18.2 points a game and 10 rebounds, hopes to continue playing basketball in college after high school.

&uot;I need to work my quickness,&uot; Ronald said.

His best game came when starters Jarvis Vaughn and Dariel Mays fouled out early against Ferriday last month.

The Vikings trailed by more than 15 points, but Ronald brought the team back almost single-handedly, scoring 27 points in a 78-75 loss to the Trojans.

&uot;It was amazing,&uot; he said. &uot;I had never done anything like that before. My teammates just kept telling me to shoot it.

&uot;When I’m on and I get an open shot, I take it,&uot; said Ronald, who has made 16 of 34 3-pointers. &uot;It’s not like I want to take every shot. But the team knows when I’m in a zone. This is not a selfish team.&uot;

Ronald and Brendy said they seldom argue, and it’s usually over simple things.

&uot;We like doing things together,&uot; Ronald said. &uot;We go to church together and growing up it seemed like we were always together. Everywhere I went, she went. People used to call us twins.&uot;

Ronald said it will be tough when he leaves Vidalia and Brendy behind.

&uot;I’m going to miss her. It will be a big loss,&uot; he said. &uot;I’ll just have to get used to it.&uot;

&uot;It’s going to be different,&uot; Brendy said. &uot;He’s been here since I’ve been here. It will probably be a little more boring.&uot;

But there will still be those games in the yard.

&uot;I don’t think he would be that mad if I beat him,&uot;&160;Brendy said. &uot;He would probably say, ‘It’s about time.’ He would probably have an excuse.&uot;

After this year, Brendy will have to carry on the Ellis name.

&uot;I love playing like my brother because he is an all-around player,&uot; Brendy said. &uot;He can dribble, shoot and rebound. I look up to that. I wish I could be more like him and make my game more like his. I love being compared to him.&uot;