By SAM STAFF/Sports Writer

CLINTON — For the second time in three seasons, a Pascagoula product that is headed to Jackson State led Team Mississippi to a big postseason win.

Panther senior standout guard Blake Nettles was named the Most Valuable Player for his home state as Mississippi thumped Alabama 98-79 here at A.E. Wood Coliseum on the campus of Mississippi College Saturday afternoon in the prestigious Alabama/Mississippi All-Star Basketball Classic.

Alabama led 12-9 in the first few minutes before Mississippi’s 38-15 run over the rest of the half led to a commanding 47-27 halftime advantage in this 36th annual affair.

Alabama’s All-Stars still hold a slim 19-17 edge in the Classic, but the series is now even at 5-5 over the last 10 years. The 19-point Mississippi win Saturday was the biggest margin of victory in the series for the Magnolia squad since a 118-97 win eight years ago in this same venue.

In the latest renewal of the long-running rivalry, Mississippi took advantage of 15 Alabama turnovers, out-rebounded the visitors 26-18 and limited Alabama to just 11 field goals in the first half. Alabama was also 1-of-9 at the foul line.

Behind Nettles, along with Starille’s Jaden Tate, both of whom were fresh off leading their two teams to state championship titles last weekend in the state’s largest two classifications, Mississippi led by as much as 30 points with less than 10 minutess to play.

Nettles scored 16 points, grabbed eight rebounds and had four assists and four steals for Mississippi to earn MVP honors for the hosts. Tate also had 16 points on a 7-of-10 shooting performance, while Devin Moore of Germantown added 13 points and both Pass Christian’s Landon Hall and Max Baria of St. Stanislaus each chipped in 11 points apiece to the winning Mississippi attack. Gulfport’s Morris Robertson also saw almost 20 minutes of action for the Magnolia State.

Mississippi out-rebounded the Alabama team 47-36, thanks in large part to Nettles, who followed in his former and future teammate Dorian McMillan of PHS and JSU as he was named Team Mississippi MVP two years ago in this contest.

Oxford’s High’s Jayden Alexander, who finished with 13 points, six rebounds, five steals and three assists, was named Alabama’s MVP. He finished 3-of-9 from the 3-point arc.

Alabama’s girls won Saturday’s opener 93-65. It marked the ninth straight win for ‘Bama in the series.