Maroon Tide holds off Poplarville 69-58

by Carey Meitzler

Picayune--The Picayune Maroon Tide celebrated Senior Recognition Night with a win over Poplarville, but it wasn't easy as the

Hornets keep coming back time and time again before Picayune was able to hold them off and post a 69-58 win at Kelly Wise

Memorial Gymnasium.

Picayune jumped on to 6-0 lead on two baskets by Chris Dees and another from Wayne Mickel.  The Hornets rallied to take a

7-6 lead on Pierre Raine's basket off an offensive rebound with 2:09 left.  Poplarville's Brandon Peters scored on a layup to

make it 9-6 with :57 left.  With :42 left, Picayune's Brandon Fortenberry scored and was fouled.  His free throw attempt to

complete the three point play was no good, but Ben Daly grabbed it and scored to put Picayune up 10-9 with :33 left.  The

Maroon Tide's David McClain finished the quarter with a long three pointer with :08 left to make it 13-9.

All eyes are on the hoop as Wayne Mickel (3) follows through on his jump shot vs Poplarville.

In the second quarter, the Hornets cut it to 19-18 on two free throws by Pierre Raine with 3:50 left, but Mickel hit a 3 pointer,

Jessie Ulmer banked in a basket, and Fortenberry scored to make the score 26-18 with 1:01 left. 

Ike Bowden scored, was fouled, and added a free throw to put it at 26-21, but Ulmer scored again with :20 left to give Picayune

a 28-21 lead.

Picayune built a 41-25 lead with 4:11 left in the third quarter, but the Hornets cut it back to 47-37 at the end of the quarter.

The Hornets cut the lead to 51-47 on a lay up from Peters 5:30 left, but Picayune made six consecutive free throws to push the

lead to ten points again at 57-47 with 3:07 to play.  The Hornets came back to within four points with 1:51 left, but the Maroon

Tide went on a 8-0 run to hold on for the win.

Wayne Mickel (3) with a lay up against Poplarville's Ike Bowden (23).                  Brandon Fortenberry (4) is hacked on his lay up attempt.

Dees paced Picayune (22-4, 9-2) with 21 points and 9 rebounds. Brandon Fortenberry tossed in 17 points, pulled down 5 rebounds

and handed out 3 assists.  Wayne Mickel had 9 points, 9 assists, and 3 steals. Shun Smith had 7 points and Jessie Ulmer added

6 points. Ben Daly tallied 6 points, grabbed 6 rebounds, and blocked 2 shots.

Poplarville (9-8, 2-7) was paced by Ike Bowden and Lavelle Henry who finished with 15 points each. 

Brandon Peters had 12 points and Pierre Raine had 10 points.

Lady Hornets 77   Lady Tide 27

Poplarville (8-8, 4-4) got balanced scoring in defeating Picayune (0-22, 0-9).  Larke Nightengale had 18 points to lead all scorers.

Demi Beason and Policia Travis tallied 17 points each.  For the Lady Tide, Janaea Wills had 9 points and Karly Moran added 8.

Chris Dees (15) with a dunk attempt.                Autumn Jackson (24) puts up a shot.