Maroon Tide Dream Season Comes to an End

Jackson Murrah 17-0 Run Too Much for Picayune to Overcome

by Carey Meitzler & Jason Pigott

The Picayune Maroon Tide and the Jackson Murrah Mustangs played an even

half of basketball in the Class 5A Semi-Final game, but Murrah went on a 17-0

run in the second half to hold off Picayune 57-48 before an estimated 1,300 at

the Mississippi Coliseum in Jackson.

Picayune led 25-23 with :44 left in the second quarter on a layup from Eric Vianney,

but Murrah'sDandy Dozen guard Jeremy Wise tipped in a missed shot with :01 left

to tie the game at 25-25.

The Maroon Tide came out and took a 33-28 lead with 3:24 left in the third quarter

and seemed to be gaining control of the game's tempo until Mike Johnson and Wise

caught fire and ignited the Mustangs 17-0 run.  In the run, Johnson had missed three

3 point attempts earlier, nailed consecutive 3 balls and added a layup with Wise

knocking down the other 9 points.  Picayune finally scored with 5:50 left in the

fourth quarter as Picayune's Dandy Dozen Donairies Hair hit a free throw to break

the Tide scoring drought. 

Picayune would cut the lead to 53-46 with :35 left on a Vianney 3 pointer, but could

get no closer to the Mustangs.

With the win, Murrah (30-7) will advance to Saturday's Championship game facing

the winner of Meridian-Biloxi game slated for Thursday at 2:30pm.

Picayune, the South State Champion, finishes 31-4 and was riding a 20 game winning

streak.