February 15, 2008

Picayune pulls out 32-31 win over St Stanislaus

by Carey Meitzler

When Picayune and St Stanislaus meet in basketball, you usually expect a good, competitive game by two well-coached teams.

Friday was another classic battle in this long running series with Picayune winning 32-31 to capture the Region 8-4A championship.

Picayune came out on fire racing to an early 11-2 lead on a basket by David McClain and then consecutive three pointers by

Brandon Fortenberry, Reshun Smith, and Chris Dees.  Stanislaus finished the quarter with a lay up from Thomas Camargo

and two free throws by Daniel Grieves to make it 11-6 at the end of the quarter. Grieves also had two free throws early in

the quarter that tied the score at 2-2.

David McClain shoots from the corner.

Ben Daly hit two free throws with 4:38 left in the second quarter to put the Maroon Tide up 15-7.  Grieves scored on a lay up,

was fouled, and made his free throw to make it 15-10 with 4:27 left.  With 4:04 left, Grieves made two more free throws to

make it 15-12.  Brandon Fortenberry scored off a rebound of a Picayune missed free throw to make it 17-12.  Pedro Maciel

completed a three point play off a lay up and a free throw to cut the lead to 17-15.  McClain scored for Picayune off an assist

from Ben Daly and the Rockachaws answered with a lay up by Thomas Camargo to make it 19-17 at the half.

Brandon Fortenberry (right) protects the ball from St Stanislaus' Raymond Pittman in front of a packed house at PRC.

St Stanislaus tied it on a lay up by Mason Brown and then took the lead 22-19 on a Maciel three pointer with 5:41 left in the third

quarter.  Chris Dees scored on an assist from Reshun Smith to make it 22-21.  Brown scored the next four points on a short

jumper and a lay up to make it 26-21 with 3:55 left.  After a Picayune time out, Justin Smith scored on an assist from Fortenberry

and Dees scored on an assist from Travis Aubin cut the lead to one point at 26-25.   Camargo hit a free throw for a 27-25 lead.

Dees tied the game on a short jumper with 1:02 left. 

On the next trip down the court, Fortenberry forced a five count for lack of penetration with the basketball by Stanislaus. 

Seconds later, David McClain stroked another three pointer for a 30-27 lead.  Raymond Pittman hit one of two free throw

with :00.8 left to make it 30-28.

Neither team scored for the first five plus minutes of the fourth quarter as each became deliberate while on offense.  With 1:20 left,

Maciel hit a three pointer to put the Rockachaws up 31-30.  With :36 left, Stanislaus missed the front end of a one and one opportunity. 

Picayune rebounded the miss shot and eventually called timeout with :26 left.   On the inbounds play, David McClain passed to Travis

Aubin who quickly zinged a pass to Justin Smith for a short jumper off the glass to put Picayune up 32-31.

St Stanislaus turned the ball over with :08 left and began to foul Picayune on each inbounds pass in an attempt to send the

Maroon Tide to the free throw line.  After three fouls in three seconds, Stanislaus' Bryan Lynch stole an inbound pass with :05 left

and raised down toward the goal missing a shot with :02 left.  Stanislaus had a second shot off Lynch's missed, but was unable to

convert it and Picayune held on for the win.

Chris Dees had 9 points and 7 rebounds, David McClain had 7 points, Fortenberry and Reshun Smith had 5 points each,

Justin Smith had 4, and Ben Daly had two points on a pair of free throws and 5 rebounds for Picayune (28-4).

Maciel led St Stanislaus (27-4) with 9 points, Grieves had 8 points, Camargo had 7 points, Mason Brown had 6 points,

and Pittman one point.

Picayune will host Stone County at Kelly Wise Memorial Gymnasium on Tuesday while St Stanislaus will be at home

against Vancleave.