Maroon Tide holds off St. Stanislaus 54-48 in "typical" game

by Carey Meitzler

"Typical Picayune - Stanislaus game".  That was how Picayune assistant coach Dennis Peterson

described the Maroon Tide's 54-48 win over St. Stanislaus as he exited the Picayune locker room

at Kelly Wise Memorial Gymnasium.

Picayune led 9-6 midway through the first quarter after a Mike Rice made a short jumper for Stanislaus. 

Randy "Rooster" Perkins then nailed a 3 pointer and scored on a layup moments later while being fouled. 

Perkins missed the subsequent free throw attempt to pull off the three point play, but got the rebound and

drove to the basket dropping in another layup with a soft touch off the glass.  Perkins seven point spree

pushed the Maroon Tide lead to 16-6.  Stanislaus fought back to cut the lead to 18-11 at the end of the

quarter.

Picayune extended the lead to 28-14 with 4:15 left in the second quarter, but Stanislaus outscored the

Maroon Tide 12-3 the rest of the quarter getting a 3 pointer from point guard Josh Morgan with :03 left

to cut the margin to 31-26. The Rockachaws 6-4 center Mike Rice scored 10 in the quarter.

The Maroon Tide held serve in the third stanza and led 42-37 heading into the fourth quarter.

Stanislaus scored the first five points of the fourth quarter tying the score at 42-42 with 6:59 left.  Alan

Moran responded with 14 footer to put Picayune up 44-42.  On the Rockachaws next possession,

Picayune's Darionne Jones denied the Rockachaws a chance to tie the game a second time as he quickly

elevated above the rim to block Rice's short jumper.  Moments later, Jones got a crisp pass from Perkins

down low in the post, scored, and was fouled on the shot.   Jones completed the 3 point play and gave

Picayune a 47-42 lead with 3:55 left.

Rice brought Stanislaus back to within one scoring on a layup and short jumper to make it 47-46 with

2:04 to play.  Picayune responded as Chazz Hawkins nailed a 3 pointer from the left corner with 1:44

left putting the Maroon Tide up 50-46. 

Josh Morgan kept the Rockachaws close driving the length of the court and scoring on a layup with 1:18

to play.   Picayune held the basketball and Perkins was fouled with :23 left.   Perkins, looking at a one and

one free opportunity, calmly dropped two free throws in the bottom of the net to make the score 52-46. 

Stanislaus raced down the court and missed a shot.  Picayune rebounded the shot and sophomore Brandon

Fortenberry was fouled with :08 left.  Fortenberry made two free throws to close out the scoring.

Perkins, who had 12 first half points, finished with 18 points.  Jones finished with 12 points and 7 rebounds. 

Hawkins tallied 11 points with 3 three pointers and a pair of free throws. Chris Griffith added 6 points and

6 rebounds.

Rice led the Rockachaws (4-5, 1-2) with 16 points and Brandon Butler added 15 points including 3 three

pointers.

Picayune (16-2,7-0) willl be at home against Long Beach on Friday.  Long Beach girls and boys are

currently in second place in the division standings behind Picayune.

The action gets underway with JV Boys at 5:00pm, followed by Varsity Girls at 6:15pm and Varsity

Boys at 7:30pm.