By CURTIS ROCKWELL/Sports Director
GAUTIER — Almost 15 years ago, St. Stanislaus won 30 basketball games and captured the Class 4A state championship thanks in large part to the play of their standout senior All-State big man Daniel Grieves.
This season, the Rock-A-Chaws are off to their best start in almost two decades under the leadership of now head coach Grieves, and the actions of yet another inside presence.
St. Stanislaus knocked off home-standing Gautier 52-34 Tuesday night in the last game for the Rocks before Region 8-3A begins. Grieves’ squad moved to a perfect 9-0 on the season with the win. It marks the first time SSC has been at least 9-0 on a new campaign since starting the 2006-2007 season off at 10-0.

Rock 6-foot-8 stalwart Max Baria recorded a double-double with 16 points and 10 rebounds in the winning effort. It was Baria’s first outing since being named to the prestigious “Dandy Dozen” squad as selected annually by The Clarion-Ledger of Jackson.
Baria had six points in the first quarter as SSC jumped out to a 14-9 lead entering the second stanza. And, although Baria finished with 10 points in the first half ,Gautier’s Evan Smith tallied five of his own in that span including a 3-pointer to keep the Gators within striking distance as the teams headed to halftime with SSC up 22-15.
But, Baria bounced back with six more points in the third frame, and Rock point guard Rafael Cohen added five points, including a trey of his own, in that period as SSC took complete command of the contest out-scoring Gautier 19-8 to take a big 41-23 lead into the fourth period.

Baria’s 16 points were a game-high total, and both Cohen and Alan Gilliam chipped in 13 points to the winning effort as well. In fact, Gilliam tallied seven of his points in the final quarter to complete the comfortable win.
Aiden Isom had 11 points to lead the Gators, and Smith added 10 points.
The Gators bounced back Thursday afternoon with a solid 47-22 win over St. Patrick in New Orleans at the Smoothie King Center to move to move back above the .500 mark at 6-5 overall.
Isom had 12 points to pace GHS, while both Smith and Fred Davis added nine points apiece in the game that preceded the New Orleans Pelicans’ loss to the Minnesota Timberwolves.
Meanwhile, St. Stanislaus opens league play at West Marion on the road Friday night.