January 6, 2009

Gable leads Maroon Tide past Poplarville 50-48

by Carey Meitzler

Poplarville--Diminutive Vincent Gable poured in 31 points, including five three pointers, to lift Picayune to a heart-stopping

50-48 victory over the Poplarville Hornets.  The game was a roller coaster ride for the Maroon Tide as they trailed by as many

as seven points and led by eleven before surviving a wild finish to push their record to 8-7 overall and 4-1 in Region 8-4A play.

Picayune jumped out 5-0 on a bucket by Lloyd Hall and a Gable three ball, but the Hornets fought back and led 17-13 after one

period.  Poplarville's Lavelle Henry scored 11 points in the quarter. 

The Maroon Tide went on a 8-0 run to start the second quarter to lead 21-17 with 5:30 left.  The Hornets responded with an

11-0 run and led 28-21 before Gable hit a three ball with 2:40 left to make it 28-24.  Gable made it 29-27 with a short jumper

with 1:04 left and tied it 30-30 with a three pointer with :52 left.  David Gilmore made two free throws with :06 left to give his

Hornets a 32-30 half time lead.

After Poplarville scored first in the third quarter, but Picayune went on a 15-0 run to take what appeared to be a commanding

lead. During the run, the Maroon Tide got a basket from Derionne Stewart, then Gable, a 5-8 junior, scored the next 11 points

before Marvin Richmond's put back of a missed free throw concluded the run to give the Maroon Tide a 45-34 advantage

with :51 left in the quarter. After a basket by Poplarville's Ira White, Gable hit one of two free throws.  Henry, who was held

scoreless the entire second quarter and almost all of the third quarter by Picayune's Marvin Richmond and J.T. Biggs, scored

with :04 left to make the score 46-38 after three quarters.

All photos by Carey Meitzler

Vincent Gable (4) scores Picayune's last points of the night with 4:33 left in the game

as Courtney Nixon (12) and Lloyd Hall (20) watch.

Reggie Bailey scored on a assist from Lloyd Hall with 5:01 left for a 48-41 lead.  Gable scored on a high arching lay up with

4:33 left for a 50-44 lead.  Henry hit one of two free throws on consecutive trips to the free throw line to make it 50-46.

With :59 left, Jalen Raine scored off an offensive rebound to make it 50-48.   Picayune had two different chances to ice the game

with free throws, but neither Gable nor Biggs could convert down the stretch.  With :08 left, Poplarville brought the ball in and

got three attempts to score on short jumpers, but we were unable to score allowing Picayune to hang on for the win.

In support of Gable's 31 point performance, Chris Nixon and Lloyd Hall each had four points.  Bailey had 3 points and

pulled down a team high 10 rebounds.  Hall snatched 6 rebounds and had 4 steals for the Maroon Tide.

Henry led the Hornets with 18 points.

Picayune will host Pearl River Central on Friday at Kelly Wise Memorial gymnasium.

Poplarville 70   Lady Tide 44

The Lady Tide on trailed 16-13 after one quarter, but could not slow down the Lady Hornets and dropped a 70-44 decision

to Poplarville.  Monique Brown had 18 points to lead Picayune (4-11, 2-2).

Poplarville had four players in double figures including Jeronda Beason and Daiquiri Raine with 17 points each.  Demi Beason

had 15 points and Policia Travis chipped in with 14 points.   The Lady Hornets are now 3-1 in Region 8-4A action.

Monique Brown (right) drives past a Lady Hornet as Hillary Dickens (45) looks on.