By CURTIS ROCKWELL/Sports Director

CAMDEN, Miss — The win streak reached 15 straight for the Pascagoula boys basketball team Friday night.
And in the processs, the Panthers took home the championship trophy in the inaugural Madison County Christmas Tournament here at Velma Jackson High School.
Pascagoula held off Canton High 67-65 in a thrilling affair, and moved to 15-1 overall with the latest win.
Panther senior standoust Dorian McMillian and Kelan Rush combined to score 12 of Pascagoula’s 19 points in the fourth quarter, and PHS was able to hold off a late rally by the Tigers to secure the win.
“It was a great game that went back and forth,” Pascagoula head coach Lorenzo Wright said. “Canton is a great team, and some of our guys got into foul trouble early and the bench came through to keep us afloat. Proud of the effort we showed in a tough environment.”

The loss was just the second of the season for Canton, which fell to 13-2 overall with the loss. The 67 points were the most that the Tigers have allowed all season.
Canton led early 14-12 in a close contest, and the Tigers used a 5-2 run to open the second stanza to take what would turn out to be their largest lead of the night at 19-14.
The Panthers, however, went on a 10-3 run to tie the game at 22-22, and that deadlock held up until halftime as the teams headed to the locker room tied at 31-31.
As the third frame unfolded, Pascagoula got back-to-back baskets from Blake Nettles to take a 39-38 lead mid-way through the period, and the Panthers stretched that ever so slight advantage by one more entering the fourth period with a 48-46 lead.

The game remained close throughout, as Canton’s DeAndre Lewis slipped in a lay-up to cut the Pascagoula lead to 66-65 with just over a minute to play. Panther forward Chris North hit a free throw to give PHS the final 65-67 lead with 16 seconds left. A 3-point shot for Canton bounced off the rim in the waning seconds and the Panthers celebrated with the hardware.
“We did a good job of rebounding and getting baskets in key moments,” Wright added. “It was our third win in three days against really good teams. We’ve got a veteran group that’s been through some battles and that’s what helped us get through this game.”

McMillian and Rush each scored 18 points to pace Pascagoula, while Nettles chipped in 14 points and Markeuse Grady added 10 points for the Panthers. McMillian was named the Most Valuable Player of the tournament.
Lewis poured in a game-high 22 points for the Tigers.
Pascagoula will now have a week off before carrying its 15-game win streak into its own Raising Canes Classic Saturday.