Vaughn scores 19 as Callaway upends Velma Jackson

CAMDEN – Callaway took dead aim at revenge.

And the Chargers didn't miss, downing Velma Jackson 52-44 on the road on Tuesday in a matchup of the top two teams in The Clarion-Ledger's Super 10.

Callaway, the defending MHSAA Class 5A state champions, lost to the Falcons in November.

It was the Chargers' first loss since December 2013.

"It felt good to get one from these guys," Callaway coach David Sanders said. "That's a good, good team. We knew coming in, it was going to be a fight."

Callaway's Dimencio Vaughn led all scorers with 19 points.

Chargers star Malik Newman chipped in 17.

"Coming in here with this crazy, hostile environment, we're glad to get the win," Newman said. "We were humbled and we were hungry."

Newman's biggest shot of the night came in the final five minutes.

Top-ranked Callaway (8-3) surged out of the gates, going on a 10-point run in the first quarter to claim a 31-19 halftime lead.

But No. 2 Velma Jackson (7-2), the defending 3A champion, slowly clawed back.

Mississippi State recruit Quinndary Weatherspoon hit a step-back jumper to put the Falcon up 42-40 with 5:03 left.

A standing-room-only crowd rose.

Weatherspoon, a Dandy Dozen selection, finished the night with 10 points.

"Right after they went up," Newman said, "I knew I wanted the shot if it was there."

It was.

Newman was open at the top of the key and sank a 3-pointer to give Callaway a lead it wouldn't relinquish.

"I really have to credit my teammates," Newman said. "They all really stepped up and got it done."

Especially Vaughn.

Sanders said his forward had been struggling heading into Tuesday.

"He had a rough weekend. I looked at him before the game and said, 'You owe me one,'" Sanders said. "And he really did deliver. He answered big time."

With Callaway clinging to a three-point lead late, Vaughn came up with a steal and went coast-to-coast, finishing with a layup.

A few seconds later, Newman hit a jumper to send fans to the exits.

"This one really, really didn't come easy," Sanders said. "We felt like we let one get away in (November). We've been working Malik too hard and we have a lot of other good players on this team, and Vaughn really answered that call."

Contact Riley Blevins at (601) 961-7344 or rblevins@jackson.gannett.com. Follow @Riley_Blevins on Twitter.