By CURTIS ROCKWELL/Sports Director

TYLERTOWN — It took 12 years, but St. Stanislaus is a region champion on the hardwood once again.

The Rock-A-Chaws knocked off arch-rival St. Patrick for the third time this season Friday night, the latest win coming here Friday night in the Region 8-3A Tournament championship game 53-35.

The win hands SSC its first league tourney title since 2013, and lets the Rocks maintain some momentum heading into the state playoffs after dethroning the defending region champs.

Leading just 20-17 at halftime, St. Stanislaus took control of the contest as the third quarter unfolded by out-scoring the Fighting Irish 18-8 in the frame.

Rock forward Jason Forte, son of the former Southern Miss standout of the same name, had the hot hand for SSC in the decisive period as he dropped in seven points including a 3-pointer. His teammate Carter Macias added five points in the quarter, including going three-for-three from the free throw line, as SSC steadily stretched that aforementioned three point lead to double digits at 38-25 entering the final stanza.

Then, just for good measure, Forte and Macias turned the game over to SSC big man Max Baria and all the junior all-star center did was tally 11 points down the stretch to seal the big win for the Rocks.

Baria was without a doubt the top performer in the region tournament as he once again led SSC on Friday night with a game-high 25 points. Forte chipped in 11 points to the winning effort, and Allan Gilliam added 10 points for the Rocks.

In two games in the tourney, Baria tallied 52 points going an effective 19-of-24 from the field as well as 14-of-17 from the free throw line. The 6-foo-5 standout was recently named to participate in the annual Mississippi North/South All-Star Game later next month.

St. Patrick big man Andrew Ladner, who had 10 points in the first half as the Fighting Irish kept the game close, finished up with 18 points as he accounted for over half of his teams offensive output on the evening.

Up next for both squads is a home game in the Class 3A South State playoffs that tip off on Tuesday.