Maroon Tide rallies past Northshore 72-60

by Carey Meitzler

The Northshore (La) Panthers hung tough with Picayune in the Pearl River Central Tournament on Tuesday evening,

but the Maroon Tide rallied from a halftime deficit to claim a 72-60 win at Carriere.  The win pushes the Maroon Tide's

record to 5-1 on the season.

Picayune took its first lead at 4-2 on an alley oop pass from Brandon Fortenberry to Chris Dees, who slammed it home on

a two handed dunk with 4:26 left in the first quarter.  David McClain's 3 pointer with 3:17 left gave the Maroon Tide a 9-6 lead. 

Picayune led 16-12 after one quarter.

All photos by Carey Meitzler

Chris Dees (15) goes up high for a basket in the first quarter against Northshore.

Dale Meitzler (12) heads up the court after grabbing a rebound in the second quarter.

Picayune would build a 22-14 lead midway through the second quarter, but Northshore rallied to take a 25-24

lead with 1:22 left. Dale Meitzler scored on a put back after a rebound to put Picayune back on top 26-25 with

:51 left, but Northshore scored on a layup with :01 left to lead 27-26 at half time.

David McClain (33) launches a 3 pointer that put the Maroon Tide up 39-31.

The Maroon Tide came out in the third quarter and led 43-31 with 4:00 left after a 3 point shot from Fortenberry. 

But the Panthers rallied again cutting the margin to 47-42 at the end of the quarter.

Wayne Mickel (3) and Brandon Fortenberry (4) apply defense in the third quarter.

Brandon Fortenberry (left) gets ready to shoot this 3 pointer for a 59-46 lead.

Wayne Mickel scored layups on the Tide's first two possessions of the fourth quarter to push

the lead to 51-42. 

Fortenberry pushed the score to 59-46 with a 3 pointer with 4:44 left in the game.  Northshore cut

the lead to 61-56 with 3:02 left, but Picayune got another layup from Mickel for a 63-56 lead with

2:16 left.  Ben Daly scored on a pass from Reshun Smith with 1:42 left.  Daly was fouled and

converted the three point play free throw for a 66-58 advantage.  Northshore threw away the

inbounds pass after Daly's free throw.   Smith scored on a layup on an assist from Fortenberry to

make it 68-58 with 1:39 to play.  Mickel and Daly each made sets of free throws in the final minute

for Picayune.

Ben Daly (44) follows through on one of his free throws in the fourth quarter.

Wayne Mickel (3) drives in for a layup in the fourth quarter.

Fortenberry led Picayune with 23 points and Mickel finished with 18 points. 

Chris Dees finished with 12 points.

Picayune (5-1) will play St John's at Carriere on Friday at 8:00pm.

Northshore defeated the Picayune girls 78-30.