By MAURICE SINGLETON/Sports Writer

LYMAN — Harrison Central stayed with the visiting Pascagoula Panthers early, but the Panthers went on a 15-7 run in the second quarter and didn’t let up as they kept it up from there on their way to a 74-42 win over the Red Rebels on Tuesday evening.

They were all knotted up at 16-16 at the end of the first quarter, but the Panthers continued to spread the margin in the second half, outscoring the home team 22-11 in the third quarter and 21-8 in the final period.

“I think we were two different teams,” said Panthers’ coach Lorenzo Wright. “The first quarter or so, we were kind of playing like individuals. We talked about it, and I think in the third and fourth quarter, we played like a unit. That’s the difference. If we play as a unit, we can be really good. If we play as individuals, we’re going to struggle.

“Getting the football guys back, and trying to learn the rotation with the guys is a little bit why we struggled there in the first half,” Wright said. “I think I found out a little about the rotation. We’ll see going forward.”

Harrison Central trailed Pascagoula by eight at halftime (31-23). But the Panthers put up five unanswered points to open the third quarter as Justin Rogue hit his third three pointer of the night on their opening possession of the period, and Kelun Rich converted a steal on Harrison Central’s ensuing possession with a resounding dunk to give the Panthers their biggest lead – 13 points (36-23) – up to that point.

Harrison Central would pull within 11 points twice, but that was as close as the Red Rebels would get the rest of the way as the Panthers would lead by as many as twenty points as Blake Nettles sank a three pointer for the Panthers and Rich capitalized on another steal with a dunk.

The Panthers opened the fourth quarter pretty much like they opened the third quarter, scoring eleven unanswered points before the Red Rebel put any points on the clock. Rich scored once again off of a steal to get the Panthers started. Marcus Cooper would score twice on layups, and Nettles sank another three-pointer during the run. The Panthers led by 30 points (64-34), and had all the momentum with five minutes remaining in the game.

Roque and Rich led the Panthers with 14 points each, followed by Cooper with 12 points, and Nettles and Queysean Taylor 11 points each.

Shaun Murray led Harrison Central with 14 points, and Hayden Boggs finished with 13 points.

Pascagoula moves to 7-1 with the win, and resumes play on Friday at Long Beach. Harrison Central drops to 3-5 and travels to play an undefeated Gulfport team 9-0) on Friday.