SOUTH MISS 6 SPORTS

Prep Hoops: Moss Point Tigers slip past home-standing St. Martin 53-47

St. Martin’s Tony Mora swipes the ball away from Moss Point’s Kevon Ford Friday night. (Photo by Bobby McDuffie)

By CURTIS ROCKWELL/Sports Director

ST. MARTIN — The Moss Point Tigers made it a split in action against home-standing St. Martin Friday night, as they slipped past the Yellow Jackets 53-47.
The results came on the heels of the St. Martin girls winning the prior contest 41-26.
With the win, the Tigers moved three games above .500 for the first time this season and now stand 12-9 on the season. The Yellow Jackets drop to 3-14 overall on the season although St. Martin has won two out of its past five games.

Moss Point’s Quey’sean Taylor gets pressured by St. Martin’s Kai Viera Friday night. (Photo by Bobby McDuffie)
Moss Point’s Tyreese Ricardo surveys the court Friday night. (Photo by Bobby McDuffie)
Moss Point’s Alejandro Montalvo heads toward the hoop Friday night. (Photo by Bobby McDuffie)

“We gutted out a tough win versus a very well-coached team,” Moss Point head coach Daryl Osby said. “We are going to keep working hard and grinding to improve as the season continues.”
St. Martin led slightly at 7-6 after the first quarter, thanks to six points from Tony Mora.
The Yellow Jackets continued to stretch their advantage as the second stanza unfolded, out-scoring the Tigers 18-13 in the period as Mora stayed hot with eight points including a 3-pointer, and the home team took a 25-19 lead into halftime.
The second half would be all Moss Point, though. The Tigers got five points from Kevon Ford, including a 3-pointer, in the third frame and out-scored St. Martin 18-11 to take a close 37-36 advantage into the fourth period.
St. Martin remained within striking distance in the final quarter, but the Tigers got six points from Quey’sean Taylor including a key pair of free throws late to seal the six-point win.

St. Martin’s R.J. Keys moves the ball down court as Moss Point’s Jujuan Nettles defends Friday night. (Photo by Bobby McDuffie)
St. Martin’s Tony Mora goes hard to the hoop Friday night. (Photo by Bobby McDuffie)
St. Martin’s Tylah Whitlock directs traffic Friday night. (Photo by Bobby McDuffie)
Moss Point’s Breland Nicholas looks for working room Friday night. (Photo by Bobby McDuffie)

Taylor tallied 18 points to pace Moss Point to the win, including eight in the second quarter and 10 more in the second half. Alejandro Montalvo chipped in 12 points to the winning cause for the Tigers.
Mora posted a game-high 19 points to lead St. Martin, but 16 of those came in the first half and the Tigers limited him to a lone 3-pointer in the second half. Ty’Lah Whitlock added 8 points and 11 rebounds while Kai Vieira had eight points.
Both teams return to league play next, as St. Martin hosts Biloxi in Region 4-7A play and Moss Point travels to Pass Christian in Region 8-4A action.

St. Martin’s R.J. Keys makes a strong move to the basket Friday night. (Photo by Bobby McDuffie)
Moss Point’s Tyreese Ricardo makes a move past a St. Martin defender Friday night. (Photo by Bobby McDuffie)
St. Martin’s R.J. Keys glides in for a shot Friday night. (Photo by Bobby McDuffie)

The St. Martin boys were coming off of splitting a pair of games in The Pearl River Central Christmas Tournament last week. The Yellow Jackets ended play in the event with a 66-35 victory over Poplarville Friday. Mora poured in a game-high 20 points and also had seven steals and three assists. R. J. Ratliff added 13 points to the winning effort, while Ty’Lah Whitlock added nine points and seven rebounds and Kai Viera had eight points and seven rebounds as well for SMHS.
In the first game of the event, St. Martin fell to Pearl River, La., 50-49. Vieira had 12 points, while Mora added 11 points and Whitlock posted a double-double with 10 points and 11 rebounds
and Jax Walker added 9 points for SMHS.

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