Monday 02/24/04

Gulfport Lady Admirals 64   Picayune Lady Tide 59

The Lady Tide's impropable run at the South State title came to an end at Kelly Wise Memorial

Gymnasium on Monday night as the Gulfport Lady Admirals rallied in the fourth quarter to defeat

Picayune 64-59. The game started just as the Lady Tide's upset of Hancock last  Friday as the Tide's

Dedrea Magee scored off the opening tip.  However, Gulfport took a 21-17 lead at the end of the

first quarter behind the 3 point shooting of Samantha Adam (2 treys) and play of Latoya Branch

(7 points).  Breonne Spikes knocked down two 3 pointers in the quarter for the Lady Tide. The Tide

rallied in the second quarter outscoring the Lady Admirals 18-11 behind the scoring of Dedrea Magee

( 8 points) and Jamelle Clark ( 6 points) to lead 35-32 at the break. 

The 3rd quarter saw the Lady Tide extend their lead to six points (48-42) heading into the final quarter. 

However, Gulfport outscored Picayune 8-1 in the first two minutes of the fourth quarter to take a 50-49

lead.  The Tide fought back and led the game at 54-53 before Gulfport's Brittney Reese hit a 3 pointer

to put her team up 56-54 with 5:17 to play.  Dedrea Magee brought Picayune to within one point at

58-57 with 2:42 left.   However, Magee fouled out with 2:01 to play as she was called for a charging

foul.  With the clock showing 1:11, Gail Weary put Gulfport up 60-57 as she drove to the goal and

converted a layup.  Down the stretch, the Lady Tide fouled the Lady Admirals and put them on the free

throw line.  The strategy appeared to work as Gulfport missed on to successive one-and-one attempts

only to have the rebound bounce directly into the hands of a Lady Admiral.   With :38 to play, Weary

knocked down 2 free throws to put Gulfport up 62-57.  Latoya Branch added two insurance free throws

in the closing seconds to send Gulfport to the South State tournament at Hancock on Friday.

Dedrea Magee had 24 points and 10 rebounds and Jamelle Clark had 14 points and 11 rebounds for

the Lady Tide. Breonne Spikes finished with 13 points. 

Latoya Branch led Gulfport with 20 points, Brittney Reese had 17 points, and Gail Weary added 16 points.

Despite the loss, Coach Dennis Peterson and Assistant Brian Dees are sure to be excited about the future as

they will have the entire starting line-up and their first reserve returning next season.