Prep Basketball: Maroon Tide clips PRC and heads to Pascagoula Tuesday

Picayune’s Jordan Hathorne goes hard to the hoop as PRC’s Mike Montes defends at the basket Friday night. (Photo by Joe Harper)

By CURTIS ROCKWELL/Sports Director

PICAYUNE — Picayune’s boys basketball team will head to Pascagoula to battle for the top spot in the Region 4-6A standings Tuesday night.
The Maroon Tide knocked off arch-rival Pearl River Central 55-37 Friday night on the road in Carriere. The win pushed Picayune to just 10-6 overall on the current campaign, but more importantly 4-0 in the region race.

Picayune’s Jamie Valentine puts up a shot in the lane vs. PRC Friday night. (Photo by Joe Harper)

Picayune’s Kelton Stewart has his shot altered by PRC’s Mike Montes Friday night. (Photo by Joe Harper)

PRC’s Easton Smith takes aim on the basket vs. Picayune Friday night. (Photo by Joe Harper)

Picayune’s Jeremy Mark keeps his aim on the basket after a head fake vs. PRC Friday night. (Photo by Joe Harper)

The Maroon Tide is knotted with Pascagoula atop the league standings, and the Panthers will host Picayune Tuesday night in the first of two meetings over the next couple of weeks leading up to the region tournament, which will take place in Pascagoula.
The Maroon Tide led just slightly at 32-31 entering the fourth period, but the visitors exploded for 23 points in the final frame to sail to the win.
Jeremiah Mark had the hot hand in that decisive final period for the Maroon Tide, as he registered nine points down the stretch including a 3-pointer.

Picayune’s Jamie Valentine puts up a shot in the lane as PRC’s Mike Montes defends Friday night. (Photo by Joe Harper)

Picayune’s Jordan Hathorne fires up a trey vs. PRC Friday night. (Photo by Joe Harper)

PRC’s Ben Duhon leaps forward for a jump shot in the lane vs. Picayune Friday night. (Photo by Joe Harper)

PRC’s J.J. Feaster skies high for a short jumper vs. Picayune Friday night. (Photo by Joe Harper)

Mark paced Picayune with 19 points, with 17 of that game-high total coming in the second half. Kelton Stewart chipped in 13 points to the winning effort, while Jordan Hathorne added 11 points.Titus Feaster had 13 points to lead the Blue devils, while Ben Duhon added eight points.
Pearl River Central dropped to 4-6 overall and 0-4 in the region race. The Blue Devils meet Long Beach in league play Tuesday night.