Maroon Tide pulls away from PRC 54-42
by Carey Meitzler
Carriere--The Picayune Maroon Tide earned a 54-42 win over Pearl River Central (PRC) to capture the top seed in the
upcoming Region 8-4A tournament. But the score was not indicative of the closeness of the contest as Blue Devils hung tough
until the waning moments of the game before Picayune pulled away for the victory at Carriere.
Wayne Mickel (center) goes up for a shot. Jessie Ulmer (left) cranks up a 3 point attempt.
The opening moments of the first quarter were a back and forth affair with PRC taking a 12-7 lead with 4:30 left on a basket
by Jarrett Cochran. Brandon Fortenberry hit two free throws for the Maroon Tide with 3:42 left and Wayne Mickel tied the
score with a steal and subsequent lay up on the other end. Mickel was fouled and converted the old fashion 3 point play with
2:44 left. PRC's Reginald Fowler hit two free throws to regain the lead for the Blue Devils, but Ben Daly blocked a shot by
PRC's Bradley Baker and Mickel grabbed the rebound and went down the court to score on a lay up to tie it at 14-14
with :25 left. Picayune got the ball back with :10 left on a foul by PRC. Picayune pushed the ball up the court for the last shot
and David McClain drained a 3 pointer with :01 left to lift the Maroon Tide to a 17-14 lead.
Brandon Fortenberry launches a shot in the second quarter. Ben Daly (right) looks to pass the ball.
Picayune went up 21-14 by virtue of a tip in by Jessie Ulmer and another basket by Mickel. But PRC went on a 9-0 run
to take a 23-21 lead on Bradley Baker's jumper with 2:09 to play. Picayune got a basket from Fortenberry with :19 left to
tie the game at 26-26 at the half.
Wayne Mickel (3) and Brandon Fortenberry (4) look to Coach Kennedy (far left) for instructions.
Cochran put PRC up 28-26 on a lay up early in the third quarter, but the Maroon Tide on a 6-0 run on a short
jumper off the glass from Ben Daly and two driving lay ups by Fortenberry that put Picayune up 32-28 with 4:21 left.
After a score by Fowler, Fortenberry hit two free throws for a 34-30 lead with 2:49 left and Daly calmly converted
two more with :01 left to give Picayune a 36-30 lead.
Wayne Mickel with one of his 7 steals vs PRC
Cochran hit one of two free throws to make it 36-31 with 6:42 left in the game. Just seconds later, Cochran was
fouled by Picayune's McClain, his fifth personal, and McClain was assessed a technical foul that gave the Blue Devils
a golden opportunity with 6:35 left. Cochran made both free throws, but the technical attempts by Baker were unsuccessful.
PRC in bounded the ball, but Picayune turned them away. Chris Dees was fouled and made both free throws to put the
Maroon Tide lead to 38-33 with 6:14 left. Behind the strong inside play of Dees and clutch free throw shooting by Fortenberry
enabled Picayune to build a build a 43-35 lead over the next one and a half minute stretch. Baker hit a three pointer with
4:35 to play to cut it to 43-38, but that's as close as PRC could get as Dees scored again on a short jumper and Fortenberry
hit five of six free throws to push the lead to 50-38 with 1:28 left.
David McClain tries to defend a shot by PRC's Reginald Fowler.
Fortenberry lead all scorers with 20 points. Dees had 13 points and 10 rebounds despite sitting most of the second and
third quarters with three personal fouls. Wayne Mickel had 10 points, 7 steals, and 3 assists. Ben Daly, who had to
contend with PRC's big men inside with Dees on the bench, scored 4 points, had 1 steal, blocked 4 shots, and grabbed
8 rebounds.
Baker lead PRC (n/a) with 13 points and Fowler added 10 points.
Picayune (23-4, 10-2) will travel to Lyman to face Harrison Central in non-region action on Friday.
In girls action, PRC defeated Picayune 72-46.
Ebony Jones (20) looks to pass the ball vs PRC.