Tide tames Tigers 51-42 in Semi-Finals

Picayune to face familiar foe Long Beach in Finals

by Carey Meitzler

Picayune overcame a sluggish start against the homestanding McComb Tigers and unleashed a barrage

of three pointers in the decisive third quarter in earning a 51-42 win and securing a spot in the Class 4A

Boys State Tournament in Jackson.

McComb led 11-7 at the end of the first quarter as both teams seemed to be unable to find any rhythm

against the other.

Picayune tied it at 11-11 on an Alan Moran 3 pointer with 5:55 left in the second quarter.  The Tigers went

up 14-11 on a 3 pointer by Chris Anazia and then Darionne Jones step behind the arc and buried a 3 pointer

to tie it again at 16-16. Jones attempted another 3 pointer on the next possession for Picayune, but missed

and McComb rebounded the shot only to see Chazz Hawkins steal the rebound and drive in to score on a

lay up with 4:50 left.  Jones scored on a 10 footer with 4:12 left to make it 18-14.  After a free throw by McComb,

Chris Dees scored to put Picayune up 20-15 with 2:35 to play.  From there, McComb went on a 8-1 run to

lead 22-21 aided by five points from Defreddrick White.

McComb scored first in the second half on a shot by Anazia to lead 24-21.  From there, the Tide took over

with a 16-2 run that included four three pointers, two each by Alan Moran and Chazz Hawkins, a Perkins

steal and lay up and a Darionne Jones jumper, to lead 37-26 with 2:30 left.  McComb scored the last five

points of the quarter to pull within six points at 37-31.

Perkins opened the last quarter scoring on an inbounds pass for a 39-31 lead.  After McComb answered

with a basket by Akeem Williams, Picayune began to milk time off the clock as they slowed down the tempo

of the game.  Chris Griffith scored on a put back of a missed lay up by Perkins with 2:59 to play.  Hawkins

made to two free throws with 1:30 left to make it 43-33.  White brought McComb to within seven points as

he scored on a lay up, was fouled,and added the free throw with 1:04 left.

McComb's only chance was to foul and hope Picayune would falter at the free throw line.  It didn't happen

as Picayune made 7 of 8 free throws to offset a couple of baskets by McComb.

Hawkins paced Picayune with 12 points and Perkins had 11 points.  Moran had 9 points on his three treys. 

White lead McComb with 15 points.

Picayune (26-5) will play Long Beach for the South State Championship at 7:30pm.  Long Beach beat

Terry 49-48 in the other semi-final game.  Picayune defeated Long Beach twice during the regular season

and Long Beach won the third match up in the Division 8-4A championship at Poplarville.   

Terry and McComb will meet for their fourth time as well at 6:00pm for third place and the last spot in Jackson.