Maroon Tide wins in Overtime 65-56

by Carey Meitzler

Lady Tide 47  Harrison Central 46

The Lady Tide had their way in the first half, but had to fight for their lives in holding

off Harrison Central 47-46 at Kelly Wise Memorial Gymnasium.  

Picayune's tenacious defense enabled them to take a 24-5 lead at halftime.  Picayune

held the Red Rebellettes scoreless from 6:07 left in the first quarter until 1:38 left in

the second quarter.  Dedrea Magee had 10 points and Chanel Wills added 7 points

in the first half.

Harrison Central (15-7, 4-2) caught fire in the second half behind the play of Arlandria

Whitlock and Carrie Dawson.  Picayune led 34-23 at the end of the third quarter, but

the Red Rebellettes went on a 12-2 run to make it 36-35 with just over five minutes left.

Picayune would build a 45-40 lead on a Dedrea Magee steal and lay up with 1:42 to

play.   Picayune's inability to make free throws down the stretch gave Harrison Central

the opening they needed as Dawson scored with :31 left to make it 46-43.

Monique Brown made one of two free throws with :27 left for a 47-43 lead.  Sarah

Bowen nailed a three pointer with :17 left to cut the lead to 47-46.  The Red Rebellettes

called timeout and fouled the Lady Tide on the inbounds pass to send Jamelle Clark to

the line.  Clark missed both free throws with :11 left, but Harrison Central missed a shot

at the buzzer.

Magee lead Picayune (22-2, 10-0) with 16 points, 9 rebounds and 6 assists.  Chanel

Wills added 12 points and 8 rebounds and Clark finished with 8 points and 13 rebounds.

For Harrison Central, Dawson had 17 points and Whitlock finished with 16 points.

The Lady Tide will be off until the division tournament scheduled to get underway

on February 13th in Poplarville.

Maroon Tide 65  Harrison Central 56 (Overtime)

Picayune won for the 20th time this season the way they have all year long. 

Balanced scoring and good defense enabled the Maroon Tide to defeat Harrison

Central 65-56 in overtime. 

In the first half, Picayune led early and was able to stay close due to the play of

Darionne Jones who had 11 points.

Trailing 27-23 at the half, Picayune stormed back in the third period. Chazz Hawkins

stroked a three pointer to cut the Red Rebels lead to 33-31 with 3:01 left in the third

quarter and then Picayune took the lead at 34-33 on a three pointer from Brandon

Fortenberry with 2:17 left in the third quarter.  The Maroon Tide lead 40-35 at the

end of the quarter.

Another Hawkins three pointer put Picayune up 47-40 with 4:49 left in the game,

but the Red Rebels came back to tie the game at 47-47 with 3:11 left.  Picayune's

Chris Griffith scored on an assist from Darionne Jones for a 49-47 lead with 2:17

left. 

With 1:12 left, Hawkins made one of two free throws to make it 50-47.  Picayune

would have two chances to put the game on ice from the free throw line, but missed

both front ends of one and one situations. After the second missed free throw

opportunity, Harrison Central rebounded the missed show and called time out with

:22 left.  The Red Rebels Juian Simmons worked himself open off the dribble and

drilled a three pointer with :03 left to send the game to overtime at 50-50.

Picayune (20-4, 10-1) dominated the extra period behind clutch free throw shooting

from Randy "Rooster" Perkins.  Perkins made 7 of 8 attempts his last two coming

with :02 left.

Jones led the balanced Maroon Tide attack with 19 points, 12 rebounds, 4 assists,

and 2 blocked shots.  Perkins added 15 points and Griffith had 11 points and

5 rebounds. Hawkins finished with 9 points and 5 rebounds.

Simmons led Harrison Central (14-6, 4-2) with 17 points.

Picayune may play at St Stanislaus on Tuesday, with a decision on the status of

that game coming over the weekend.  If that game is cancelled, then the Tide's

next game will be at Hancock on Friday.