The Tarboro Vikings have exploded out of their mid-season slump and won three games in a row including beating SouthWest Edgecombe 66-40 Friday night in Tarboro.

Viking Markell Pettaway, who has been on fire as of late, knocked down five 3-pointers and led the Vikings scoring with 21 points. Pettaway was coming off another sensational game against Greene Central where he knocked down seven 3-pointers. Tarboro also beat Northern Nash during their short run.

The Vikings are tied for fourth place with North Pitt in the Eastern Plain Conference. Only four teams in the conference will go to the state playoffs. With three games left in regular season, the remainder of the games will be critical for the Vikings.

“We are still not where we need to be. We've got some work to do,” said Vikings Coach Lashaun Jenkins. “We want to get in on our own merits. We have some tough games left.”

If the Vikings can continue their hot shooting from the perimeter those games may not be as tough as Jenkins suspect. In the last two games the Vikings hit a combined 17 3-pointers. Pettaway led the big bombs by scoring 12 of the 17.

Against the Cougars the senior poured salt on the SouthWest’s wound by scoring the final three field goals which were 3-pointers.

“Markell has been playing inspired,” Jenkins said. “He refuses to let up. He plays hard every night and has set the standards for our team.”

Jeremy Watson added 13 points for the Vikings and William Ruffin 12.

Leading scorer for the Cougars (3-14 overall, 1-7 conference) was Anthony Coley 18 and Ja’Marco Cotton 16. Cotton struggled the beginning of the season but has came around in the last three games when the Cougars needed him most.

SouthWest continues to struggle on and off the court. Playing with only eight players the Vikings handed the Cougars their sixth consecutive loss in a row. The Cougars’ last victory came against conference foe Greene Central.

Wooten said disciplinary actions and academic ineligibility by half of his team has shortened his bench.

The lost was the third against the Vikings this season.

Lady Cougars 49,

Lady Vikings 46