By Maurice Singleton/Sports Writer

BILOXI — The Biloxi Indians celebrated Seber Windham’s last home game as head coach with a 54-51 win over Petal in the first round of the Class 7A South State playoffs on Saturday here at The Biloxi Sports Arena.

It wasn’t easy. The teams were tied at 24-24 at halftime, and the Indians had to overcome a 10-2 Panthers’ run to start the third quarter. But the Indians responded with a smothering full-court press that forced eight Petal turnovers in the second half.

“It’s always good to get your last win here and move on to the Elite 8,” said Windham, who is retiring at the end of the season. “When they went up, and went on their run, I called a time out, and I really really challenged our guys defensively to get stops. And that’s what playoff basketball is, getting stops and getting rebounds. And I challenged them, and my guards, I thought, really took the challenge.”

That 10-2 run gave Petal a 34-26 lead midway through the third quarter, but the Biloxi defense turned it up, and Biloxi would get within two as Kentrell Beasley sank the first of two free throws, making the score 34-32. But Petal would widen the gap to six at 38-32 before Biloxi would close out the quarter on a 4-point run to trail 38-36 to end the quarter.

Beasley would sink two three-pointers in the fourth quarter, the first to give the Indians their first lead of the second half at 39-38. His second three-pointer gave the Indians the lead at 47-46, and they held onto the lead the rest of the way.

Following a Biloxi time out, Beasley would attack the basket in traffic to extend the Indians’ lead to 49-46 with just under a minute left of the clock.

Petal was called for a traveling violation with 34 seconds left. So, with a three-point lead the Indians put the ball in their playmaker’s hands, and Beasley delivered as he sank five of six free throws in the final 32 seconds of the game.

Beasley would lead the Indians’ scoring with 17 points on the night, 13 of those points coming in the fourth quarter. Sevann George would contribute 11 points, and Cornellous Lenard would add 9 points for the Indians.

Petal would get a huge three-point basket from Ben McElvany with just under 15 seconds left on the game clock to pull within two points of the Indians at 53-51, but defensively the Panthers were forced to foul the Indians, and the ball was in Beasley’s hands, who sank the second free throw to close out the game’s scoring.

“The last time we were here, went into four overtimes,” said Petal coach Brandon Jennings. “I thought we were about to send it into overtime again. I thought our guys came in and battled. Biloxi knocked off the top team in the state last week, and tonight we were three points away.”

Eli Causey and Mekhi Keyes led the Panthers’ scoring with 11 points apiece.

With the win, Biloxi advances to the second round of the playoffs against Meridian on Friday night on the campus of Pearl River Community College in Poplarville.