Dedrea Magee leads Lady Tide over Pass 67-37

Long Beach denies Maroon Tide 65-55 in Boys Final 

by Carey Meitzler

Lady Tide 67  Pass Christian 37

After a somewhat average game on Thursday night, Picayune's Dandy Dozen

guard Dedrea Magee posted a strong performance in front of a packed house

at Poplarville in leading the Lady Tide to the Division 8-4A championship with

a 67-37 win over Pass Christian.

Magee had 17 first half points as Picayune raced to a 35-19 lead.  Picayune

went on a 16-2 to open the third quarter and never looked back in defeating

the young and talented Lady Pirates.  Pass Christian, playing all their games on

the road this season due the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina, starts four

sophomores and a freshmen.  Pass reached to title game by knocking off

number two seed Long Beach on Thursday..

Pass Christian (13-10) was lead by Hillary Dedeaux with 15 points.  The

Lady Pirates will host McComb at Bert Jenkins Gym in Gulfport on Monday.

Magee finished with 26 points, 11 rebounds, 6 assists, and 7 steals.  Jamelle

Clark added 18 points and 11 rebounds.  Breonne Spikes had 12 points for

Picayune (24-2).  Picayune will host Terry in the first round of the South

State playoffs on Monday at 7:00pm

Dedrea Magee, Jamelle Clark, Breonne Spikes

Long Beach 65  Maroon Tide 55

The Long Beach Bearcats must have figured that the third time was the charm

as they defeated Picayune 65-55 to win the Division 8-4A championship. 

Picayune had soundly defeated the Bearcats in their two regular season

meetings, but Long Beach, sparked by a stellar performance by 6-8 senior

Owen McNally, turned the tables on the Maroon Tide at Poplarville.

McNally had 14 first half points as the Bearcats posted a 32-30 half time

advantage.  Picayune would go ahead 39-37 with 3:15 left in the third quarter

when Darionne Jones scored on a put back of a missed shot.  Long Beach

responded with an 8-0 run to lead 45-39 heading into the fourth quarter.

Picayune opened the fourth quarter with a Randy Perkins layup to make it

45-41, but that's as close as the Maroon Tide would get as Long Beach

responded with an 9-0 run to lead 54-41 with 3:11 left.  Picayune worked

the lead down to 55-48 on a Chazz Hawkins jumper with 1:01 to play,

but Long Beach held on with clutch free throws and a pair of layups to

hold off Picayune..

McNally finished with 18 points.   Joseph Burnett tallied 15 points and

Tramaine Brock had 14 for Long Beach.  The Bearcats will host McComb

on Tuesday in the first round of the South State playoffs.

Perkins and Hawkins each had 16 points for Picayune (23-5).  Picayune

will be at home on Tuesday as Mendenhall will come calling on the

Maroon Tide at Kelly Wise Memorial Gymnasium.  Tipoff is set for 7:00pm.