By Joseph W. Gex II/Sports Writer

Gulfport — The Pass Christian Pirates (10-6) needed overtime to make the Tigers of Jim Hill High School walk the plank for an 80-73 victory in the Admiral Holiday Classic on Monday. However, the victory did not come without fireworks of its own at the expense of the Jim Hill Tigers (10-5).

After tying the game at 62-62 on a basket by Jim Hill’s Anthony Trotter with no time on the clock, the Pirates went on a 7-0 run to open the overtime period highlighted by a technical foul on Jim Hill head coach Corwin Buchanon during a timeout when he challenged a referee’s call. Ultimately, the Pirates outscored the Tigers 18-11 in the extra period to earn the win.

Pass Christian jumped out to a 15-13 lead in the first period led by Amarie James and Landon Hall with six points each. 

With the score tied 17-17 with five minutes to play in the first half, Jim Hill surged for a 27-20 lead led by Trotter with three consecutive baskets.

Pass Christian cut the lead in the final 1:50 highlighted by Hall’s three-pointer with three seconds left in the half to make the score 30-26 in favor of Jim Hill.

The Pirates stormed out of the gates to open the second half of play with a 7-2 run that gave them a 33-32 lead with 5:50 left in the period when Hall banked a layup in the basket. 

Kyran Laneaux pushed the Pirates to a 39-34 lead on a dunk with 4:08 left in the period. Hall later sank a three-pointer for the Pirates for a 44-40 lead with 1:10 left to play. Pass Christian would end the period with a 48-44 lead.

Jim Hill took a 57-55 lead on Trotter’s jumper with 2:45 left to play in regulation only to have the Pirates’ Terrell Bailey steal the ball and assist Laneaux with a basket to knot the score at 57-57.

Amarie James gave the Pirates a 62-60 lead with 12 seconds left with a free throw; however, the Tigers tied the game up with a shot by Trotter with two ticks left on the clock to force the extra period.

The Pirates made one free throw on consecutive trips down the court that pushed the Pirates to a 64-62 lead before Buchanon threw his tantrum on the floor of the gymnasium garnering a technical foul against Jim Hill and forcing him to remain seated for the remainder of the game.

Hall made both free throws and consecutive baskets down the floor to complete an 8-0 run to start the extra frame and five the Pirates a commanding 70-62 lead with 2:20 remaining.

Pass Christian pushed the lead to 10 points 80-70 with seven seconds left but a three-pointer by Cameron Mayes at the buzzer made the final tally 80-73 in favor of the Pirates. 

During the shaking of hands, some words were exchanged between two players and the Jim Hill player was restrained by the coaches.

Pass Christian head coach Robin Sykes commented, “I am super proud of our players and their toughness throughout a tough and physical basketball game. Hats off to the Jim Hill Tigers who played extremely well tonight. Our schedule to this point helped us attain this victory tonight. All season we have gottne better and becoming a tougher basketball team and this game helped prove that. When we were put in a situation where we had to have conversions on possessions, we got them. We made some very tough baskets tonight and I was pleased to see us do that. We have to get prepared for Gulfport game. Gulfport has one of the best teams in the state led by one of the best coaches in the state in Brian Butler. I would like to acknowledge JT Usher for his play today who has had to play through the loss of his father last Monday. Our team has stepped up behind him to support him during this most tragic time and JT has practiced and played like a champion today. Mr. Butch Usher was watching over us today and we came together for JT and his family as a unit.”

Landon Hall paced Pass Christian with 27 points followed by Amarie James, Dwight Thomas, and Kyran Laneaux with 10 points each.  

The Pirates will play the host Gulfport team at 7:30 p.m. on Tuesday.