by Carey Meitzler
The Picayune Maroon Tide reserved a spot in the Class 5A State Tournament with a
resounding 72-56 win over the Moss Point Tigers at the Biloxi Sports Arena on the
campus of Biloxi High School. Picayune won their 19th consecutive game and moved
to 30-3 on the season.
Picayune jumped out to a 10-0 lead in the first three minutes as they pounded the ball
inside against the Tigers. Moss Point's huge frontline of three players over 6-7 was no
match for the much quicker Maroon Tide as Picayune converted layups on 6 of their
first 8 made shots. Picayune lead 21-6 at the end of the quarter.
Moss Point's 6-8 David Booker, who scored 41 points in his last outing, went to the
bench with his 3rd foul in the opening seconds of the second quarter and he did not
score in the first half. That was not the case for the Tide's 6-8 Donaires Hair. Hair
had 14 points and 7 rebounds at the break. Mark Dragon added 10 of his 14 points
in the first two quarters. Picayune connected on 14 of 16 free throws in the first half.
Moss Point cut the lead to 28-18 with 2:20 left in the second quarter, but that's as close
as they would get as Picayune built a 37-20 halftime lead.
The Maroon Tide extended the lead to 51-28 at the end of the third period. In the fourth
quarter, Picayune pulled away, leading by 30 points midway through the quarter. The
Tide continued their torrid free throw shooting in the second half and finished the game
making 30 of 34 for the game.
Hair finished with another double-double, tossing in 23 points and grabbing 12 caroms
off the glass. Eric Vinanney and Mark Dragon finished with 14 each. Vinanneyalso
pulled down 6 rebounds and handed out 5 assists. Tony Foster turned in a solid
performance 10 points and 8 rebounds.
Picayune will face Biloxi in the South State Championship at 8:00pm with the winner
earning a first round bye in the Class 5A tournament. Moss Point (13-12) will take
on Vicksburg at 6:30pm with the winner gaining the third seed and a trip to Jackson.