February 23, 2008

Picayune defeats St Stanislaus 45-34 to win South State title

by Carey Meitzler

Picayune captured their 6th South State title in 7 years with a 45-34 victory over the St. Stanislaus Rockachaws at Kelly Wise

Memorial.  The Maroon Tide's win was their fourth of the season over the Rockachaws who are one of only two teams to beat

Picayune in their gym in the past four years.  The Rockachaws defeated Picayune during the regular season last year with the

Maroon Tide capturing South State against Stanislaus last year at Pass Christian.

Reshun Smith opened the game with a three pointer that was immediately answered by Stanislaus' Bryan Lynch to make it 3-3.

Daniel Grieves lay up put Stanislaus up 5-3, but Picayune went on a 11-0 run with Smith hitting another three pointer in the surge

that gave the Maroon Tide a 14-5 lead.   Stanislaus came back on Thomas Camargo's short jumper and another Lynch three

pointer made it 14-10 at the end of the quarter.

Brandon Fortenberry (4) guards Pedro Maciel (20) in the third quarter.

Justin Smith came off the bench to start the second quarter and immediately made an impact for Picayune scoring on a putback of

a missed shot.  Brandon Fortenberry hit two free throws for a 18-10 lead with 2:56 left in the half.   Stanislaus' Pedro Maciel

scored on a twisting, spinning lay up to make it 18-12.  Chris Dees scored on a putback with 2:15 left to put Picayune up 20-12.

Neither team would score again in the half.

Ben Daly scored on a very difficult left hook to open the third quarter, but Maciel answered with a lay up and converted a free

throw for a three point play.  Reshun Smith hit a acrobatic shot with his left hand, was fouled, and converted the free throw for

a 25-15 lead with 4:28 left. Picayune built the lead to 12 points twice in the third quarter and led 29-19 at the end of the quarter.

Fortenberry turned in two old fashioned three point plays to give Picayune a 35-21 lead.  However, Stanislaus rallied to cut

the lead to 35-28 with 2:59 left.   Reshun Smith scored on an assist from Dees to give Picayune a 37-28 lead with 2:20 left.

Stanislaus cut the lead to 38-32 with :52 left, but Chris Dees hit 7 of 8 free throws in the last :44 of the game to preserve

the win for Picayune.

Picayune (32-4) was led by Dees with 16 points and 11 rebounds.  Reshun Smith had 13 points and Brandon Fortenberry had

8 points.  Picayune will play in Jackson on Monday, March 3 at 8:00pm against the winner of Moss Point and Vicksburg.

Maciel paced the Rockachaws (30-5) with 14 points and Lynch finished with 11 points.  Stanislaus will play in Jackson on

Wednesday (February 27) against Ridgeland at 2:30pm.