Prep Basketball: Panthers clinch playoff berth pounding PRC 67-32 Tuesday night

Pascagoula’s Will Rogers battles with PRC’s Titus Feaster for a rebound Tuesday night. (Photo by Bobby McDuffie)

By CURTIS ROCKWELL/Sports Director
PASCAGOULA — The Pascagoula boys basketball team clinched a berth in the upcoming Class 6A South State playoffs Tuesday night.
The home-standing Panthers pummeled Pearl River Central 67-32 in Region 4-6A play, moving to an unbeaten 7-0 in the region race in the process. Pascagoula has won 35 straight league games and stands 17-6 overall this season as it aims for its third straight Region 4-6A title.

Pascagoula’s Ireyion Harvey splits a pair of PRC defenders on his way to the basket Tuesday night. (Photo by Bobby McDuffie)

Pascagoula’s Ireyion Harvey reacts as PRC’s Titus Feaster reaches out for a steal Tuesday night. (Photo by Bobby McDuffie)

Pascagoula’s Tamir Boykin surveys the scene as PRC’s Andy Fitzgerald defends Tuesday night. (Photo by Bobby McDuffie)

Pascagoula’s Adam Griffin puts up a jump shot as PRC’s Easton Smith defends Tuesday night. (Photo by Bobby McDuffie)

The win also assures the Panthers of an opening round bye in the upcoming region tournament, which PHS will host, and the ensuing bye automatically qualifies Pascagoula for a spot in the playoffs.
As has been the case in many of Pascagoula’s recent region wins, the Panthers exploded out of the gate quickly and took complete command of the contest early to cruise to the victory.
The home team got a combined 13 points from the inside-outside duo of newcomer Adam Griffin and center Tamir Boykin in the first quarter, as Griffin dropped in seven points and Botkin added six points, to push Pascagoula out to a comfortable 25-4 lead entering the second stanza and the Panthers never looked back.

Pascagoula’s Tamir Boykin tries a baby hook as PRC’s Easton Smith defends Tuesday night. (Photo by Bobby McDuffie)

Pearl River Central’s J.J. Feaster pulls up for a shot vs. Pascagoula Tuesday night. (Photo by Bobby McDuffie)

Pascagoula’s Will Rogers stretches out to defend a shot by PRC’s Kai Tillman Tuesday night. (Photo by Bobby McDuffie)

Pearl River Central’s Kai Tillman reacts as he splits a pair of Pascagoula defenders on a trip down the lane Tuesday night. (Photo by Bobby McDuffie)

Jacob Griffin, also a newcomer for PHS and Adam’s twin brother, paced PHS with 13 points while Marcus Cooper added 10 points to the winning effort. The Griffin brothers recently transfered in from Booker T. Washington High in Pensacola, Fla.
With his team up 46-13 at halftime, veteran Pascagoula head coach Lorenzo Wright emptied his bench in the second half, resulting in 12 different players scoring for PHS.
Titua Feaster led PRC with 13 points, as the Blue Devils dropped to 7-10 overall and 2-5 in the region race.