Lady Tide and Maroon Tide Advance to Division 5-5A Finals

by Carey Meitzler

Girls: Picayune 61  Oak Grove 42

PIcayune (19-8) raced out to a 12-0 advantage and never were seriously

challenged as the ended Oak Grove's season.  The Lady Warriors had split their

games with the Lady Tide during the regular season, but Picayune was clicking

on all cylinders in the lid-lifter for the Division 5-5A tournament at Picayune's

Kelly Wise Memorial Gymnasium.

Picayune led 25-10 after one quarter, 40-16 at the half and 47-29 after the t

hird quarter.

Ashley Bell and Dedrea Magee each pumped in 17 points for Picayune. 

Bell scored 12 in the first quarter to get the Lady Tide out of the gate early.

Jamelle Clark finished with a double-double with 10 points and 11 rebounds. 

Toi Jones added 7 points for Picayune and Shanquell Whitehead finished

with 6 points.

Brittany Whitaker had 16 points and Logan James added 15 points for

Oak Grove (19-11).

Boys: Picayune 64  Hancock 44

Picayune (27-3) struggled early in the first quarter as Hancock was very

deliberate on defense and forced the Maroon Tide into turnnovers and

poor shot selection.  The Tide would rally and built a 24-13 point halftime

lead and finally pulled away late in the third quarter on their way to their

16th straight victory.

Eric Vinnaney and Jarvis Dantzler each had 10 points to lead Picayune.

Donaires Hair and Mark Dragon added 9 each. Tony Foster chipped in

8 points and Darionne Jones gave the Tide a solid performance with

7 points and 5 rebounds.

Girls:  Hancock 51  Hattiesburg 33

Hancock punched their ticket for the championship game with a

resounding win over Hattiesburg (10-16).  Hancock (22-8), the defending

Class 5A State Champion, led 29-14 at the half and coasted to the victory

on the Lady Tigers.

Erica Moran poured in 24 points and grabbed 8 rebounds for the Lady

Hawks.  Christine Singleton had 12 points and 7 caroms.

Boys:  Hattiesburg 75  Oak Grove 57

Hattiesburg avenged a regular season loss to the Warriors and moved

into the Division 5-5A Championship game against Picayune this Friday.

Adrian Williams led the way for the Tigers with 20 points followed by

Jamarcus Jackson with 13, Aaron Williams with 12, and Chris Dees

with 11 points.

Mycheal Keeler paced Oak Grove with 20 points and 10 rebounds. 

Lebaron Weathers added 15 points.