By MAURICE SINGLETON/Sports Writer

BILOXI — The Pascagoula Panthers (1-0) eked out a 61-59 win over the Biloxi Indians (1-1) on Wednesday at The Biloxi Sports Complex.

Pascagoula led by nine points (58 -49) with just over two minutes remaining, but Biloxi came roaring back to pull within two points of the Panthers at 60-58. The Indians missed the first of two free throws with 15 ticks remaining on the game clock. Christian Williams sank his second free throw to pull within one of the Panthers ((60-59).

Pascagoula’s Justin Roque was fouled with 10 seconds remaining, and he too missed the front-end free throw. He made the second to close out the game’s scoring.

With ten seconds left, Biloxi was able to get the ball down court and to force a failed shot attempt from outside as the clock wound down.

“It was playoff basketball right there,” said Panthers coach Lorenzo Wright. “I’m proud of the effort these guys showed. We played eight guys, eight guys early. Those guys fought and found a way to win.”

Pascagoula opened with a 4-0 lead and didn’t surrender the lead until just under five minutes remaining in the third quarter. Prior to that they tied the game twice, first at 23-all with just over two minutes remaining before halftime, then at 38-all just before they took their first lead of the game at 39-38 with 4:38 remaining on the third quarter clock.

From there, the lead would change only once as Biloxi would take a 49-48 lead with just over seven minutes remaining in the game.

Marcus Cooper scored on an alley-oop dunk to regain the lead for the Panthers and repeated the dunk on their next possession to extend the lead to three points (52-49).

Pascagoula would go on a 6-point run, first scoring on a rebound and putback, then another dunk, this time by Tylan Wilson, and two Roque free throws to extend the lead to 58-49.

“I’ve got a new team, a lot of new guys,” said Biloxi coach Seber Windham. “We’re jelling right now. I think this game is going to help us in the long run. My guys have to understand that the simple things win ball games. Things like rebounding the ball. We’re coming down the stretch, we’ve got to make free throws. And don’t turn the basketball over.

“Pascagoula has got one of the best teams in the state,” Windham added. “They’ve got some of the best players in the state. We just told our guys to just fight and hang around and do some of the small things, we’ll be able to have a chance to win the game.”

Kelan Rich led the Panthers with 22 points, followed by Quey’Sean Taylor with 15 points and Blake Nettles with 12 points. Blake Nettles had 12 rebounds and seven assists, while Rich had seven assists also.

Alan Ayala and Alejandro Montvalvo had 15 points apiece for the Indians.

Biloxi Lady Indians 56, Pascagoula Lady Panthers 15
The Lady Indians dominated the visitors, outscoring the Lady Panthers 35-1 in the first half. Pascagoula put up eight points in third quarter to the Lady Indians 17 in the period as the went to s running clock in the second half.

Lady Indians coach Devin Hill said that he was pleased by the way his team managed the ball. “One of our team goals is less than 15 turnovers a game. They kind of turned us over a little when they changed defenses there in the second half. If we’re going to make shots that’s kind of an added bonus for us. We like to play inside out, so when we’re making shots that’s a bonus for us.

“For the first game, we’re pleased, but obviously we’ve got a lot of room to grow. We’ve got our eyes on the gold ball. If we’re going to do that, we’ve got to get better every game.

“I’m so proud of my daughter (Aubrey Hill). She shot the ball lights out tonight. She’s been the product of her hard work. She was limited with an injury in her tenth-grade year, and in eleventh grade, she was trying to find her way back. I believe this is her year. I am so proud of her. I believe the sky is the limit.”

Hill led the Lady Indians with 17 points, including three 3-pointers. Aaliyah Davison added 11 points.