By Maurice Singleton/Sports Writer

WIGGINS —Pass High opened up with great intensity, but the Morton Panthers more than answered their intensity in the second quarter on both sides of the court, defeating the Pirates 50-37 in the Region 8 4A playoffs on Friday.

The Pirates opened up a 14-8 lead on their first possession of the second quarter, but from there, the Panthers went on an 18-5 scoring run, while forcing eight Pirates’ turnovers in the period.

The 18-point second quarter scoring was the highest offensive performance of the game for the Panthers, and the 7-point second quarter tied the lowest quarter output for the Pirates who also scored 7 points in the fourth quarter.

“Basketball is a game of runs,” said Pirates’ head coach Robin Sikes. “It’s about how you respond. We responded all year. We didn’t respond well today. We don’t understand why things happen the way they do sometimes. The layups didn’t go our way tonight. The ball control didn’t go our way. It’s a tough one. It’s a tough one.

“Taking nothing away from Morton, class act,” said Sikes. “Coach over there is a class act. Experienced group.”

The Pirates started the game with a missed layup, and they also had four turnovers in the first quarter, but despite the mistakes, their go-to guys made plays. Landon Hall got the Pirates going for the game’s first score with an 8-footer. Then, Mario Burks scored on a layup. A couple of possessions later, Kyran Laneaux scored back-back 10-footers to give the Pirates the lead at 8-6.

Burks scored on a rebound and putback to extend the lead to 10-7, and Hall closed out the quarter sinking two free throws to put the Pirates up 12-8.

The Pirates would increase their lead to 19-11 after a rebound and putback by Burks with six minutes left in the second quarter. But in just over two minutes, the Panthers would close that gap to a single point (18-19). And at the end of the quarter, the Panthers would lead 26-19.

The first quarter was the highest scoring quarter for the Pirates, who would put up 11 points in the third quarter and 7 points in the second and fourth quarters.

“I told my guys before the game a good team was going to win, good team was going to lose,” said Sikes. “Hats off to Morton. Kudos to what they were able to accomplish tonight.”

Burks led the Pirates with 14 points, followed by Hall with 9 points. Avonte Reese and Xaviel McDonald led the Panthers with 13 points each.

Pass ends their season with a 22-11 record. Morton (20-8) advances to the Jackson for a 4A semifinal game against Kosciusko on Tuesday. It marked the second straight season that Morton knocked off PCHS in the Class 4A South State Quarterfinal round.