Picayune ropes Mustangs 58-36 to advance to next round

by Carey Meitzler

Picayune--Picayune knew going into their first round playoff game against West Jones that they would have to find a way to

slow down the Mustangs' Renell Collins.  In the early going, the Maroon Tide did not have an answer for Collins, but Picayune

turned up their defense in the third quarter and pulled away for a 58-36 win at Kelly Wise Memorial Gymnasium.

The first quarter was a back-and-forth affair with West Jones leading 15-14 when the stanza ended.   Renell Collins scored

12 points for the Mustangs and Chris Dees had 10 for Picayune.

Jessie Ulmer (22) tries to block a shot by Alex Keys (31).    Renell Collins (23) shoots over Picayune's Wayne Mickel.

Picayune took the lead for good at 20-19 on a lay up by Brandon Fortenberry with 5:42 left.  ReShun Smith hit a three pointer

that put Picayune up 25-21 and then he gave Picayune their biggest lead of the first half at 30-23 on his second three pointer

with 1:42 left in the quarter.  Jeremy Bender scored for West Jones with 1:20 left to make the half time score 30-25.

The Maroon Tide took over in the third quarter outscoring West Jones 16-2 including a 13-0 run after Bender scored with

5:05 left to make it 33-27.  The run was keyed by a Brandon Fortenberry three pointer, two lay ups by Dees, a lay up by

Fortenberry, and two lay ups by Jessie Ulmer, the last on the put back of a missed shot with :07 left to give Picayune a

commanding 46-27 lead at the end of the third quarter.

Chris Dees (15) scores two of his game high 26 points over West Jones' Mike Soleman.

Picayune outscored West Jones 12-9 in the fourth quarter and the Maroon Tide was able to play everyone in the

last game of the year at Kelly Wise Memorial Gymnasium.

Dees led all scorers with 26 points, 8 rebounds, and 3 steals.  Fortenberry finished with 11 points, 4 rebounds, and 4 assists.

ReShun Smith finished with 8 points and Jessie Ulmer had 6 points, 3 rebounds, and 1 blocked shot. 

Wayne Mickel had 5 points, 5 assists, and 2 steals.  Ben Daly had 2 points, 2 blocked shots, and 7 rebounds.

Picayune (27-5) will advance to the South State to play McComb at Pass Christian.  The game is scheduled for 5:30pm.

West Jones, who finishes the year with a record of 12-20, was paced by Collins with 21 points.