By CURTIS ROCKWELL/Sports Director

CLINTON — Last season, Ridgeland standout guard Phil Nelson was a prime reason why the Titans upset Pascagoula 48-42 in the Class 6A Final Four semifinal round at Mississippi Coliseum in Jackson.

Monday afternoon, just a short trip down I-20, Nelson was back at it once again giving fits to yet another “Southern Six” squad.

Nelson poured in a game-high 24 points as Ridgeland toppled Biloxi 54-45 in game four of the prestigious “Rumble in the South” MLK Day event here at A.E. Wood Coliseum on the campus of Mississippi College.

The 6-foot-1, 190-pound Nelson, who was named to the prestigious pre-season “Dandy Dozen” list as named annually by The Clarion-Ledger of Jackson, was seven-of-nine from the field with one 3-pointer and he went nine-of-10 from the free throw line. He was also named the Most Valuable Player of the game adding seven steals, four rebounds and three assists to his worksheet.

“Phil Nelson is the real deal!” veteran Indians head coach Seber Windham said, immediately after the game. “He is strong athletic and can shoot it. He’s a high-level guard that does everything for his team that’s why they played for the 6A State Championship last year and are expected to challenge for it again. Phil is a legit Dandy Dozen.”

Almost 11 months ago, Nelson converted six of seven foul shots down the stretch to ice the game for Ridgeland in the hard-fought win over Pascagoula that sent the Titans to the Class 6A state championship game. Nelson led RHS with 16 points per game last season.

He wasted no time in making his mark against Biloxi on Monday as he scored seven points in the first period, including a 3-pointer, and RHS took a double-digit lead at the end of the quarter 19-8.

He added six more points in the second stanza to guide the Titans to a seemingly commanding 30-16 lead at halftime.

But, Biloxi’s Kentrell Beasley tallied seven points in the third quarter, including a trey of his own, as the Indians doubled up RHS in the frame 20-10 to cut the deficit to 40-36 entering the fourth period.

However, even though Reggie Magee nailed a triple for Biloxi down the stretch, Marquise Williams put in five points in the final frame while both Nelson and Ashton Manuel added four points apiece as the Titans kept Biloxi at bay and held on for the win.

Ridgeland moved to an impressive 20-4 overall with the win, as both Williams and Manuel chipped in nine points apiece to complement Nelson’s top total of 24 points in the winning effort. Williams also had eight rebounds.

Beasley came off the bench to pace the Indians with 14 points, while Carnellous Lenard added 13 points and six boards for BHS. Biloxi’s Jakylen Edwards pulled down a game-high eight rebounds also.

The loss was the second in four days for the Indians, as they dropped to 16-5 overall on the season, on the heels of a 49-43 loss to D’Iberville at home Friday night.