SOUTH MISS 6 SPORTS

November 4, 2026

Prep Basketball: Picayune ruins Wright’s Red Rebel debut Tuesday

Picayune’s Kelton Stewart (5) glides through the lane for a shot surrounded by Harrison Central defenders Tuesday. (Photo by Jackson Ranger)

By Maurice Singleton/Sports Writer

PASS CHRISTIAN — The Picayune Maroon Tide closed out the opening quarter on a 16-1 run to take a 24-9 lead, and they never let up on their way to a 64-37 win over Harrison Central in the first night of the Pass Christian Invitational on Tuesday.

Picayune used a high-pressured half-court defense, forcing tough shots and turnovers for the young HCHS team that struggled to find their footing. Harrison Central stayed close in the second quarter, putting up 11 points in the period to Picayune’s 12 points.

But the second half was more of the first quarter as Picayune turned up the defensive pressure, holding Harrison Central to only 7 points in the third quarter and 10 points in the fourth quarter.

Harrison Central’s Karmelo Laneaux (12) makes a save on the baseline vs. Pascagoula Tuesday. (Photo by Jackson Ranger)

Harrison Central’s Geriyn Brown (5) looks for some working room as Picayune’s Irvin Lee defends Tuesday. (Photo by Jackson Ranger)

Picayune’s Jamir Valentine (11) goes hard to the hoop vs. HCHS Tuesday. (Photo by Jackson Ranger)

“We just put a little ball pressure on them and ran our stuff and executed pretty well out the gate,” said Picayune head coach Run Bowen. “Very pleased with this win. We played really hard, rebounded well, and ran our stuff.”

Picayune opened the third quarter on an 11-1 run to take a 47-21 lead midway through the period, and that 26-point margin zapped the energy out of the Red Rebels fight.

The Maroon Tide was led by senior point guard Kelton Stewart who would put up 8 points in that third-quarter run and 27 points tota; to lead all scorers. He also put up 9 points in the first-quarter run.

“He’s the best player for us,” said Bowen. “He does a lot of right things for us, a lot of good things. He plays really hard. I’m expecting him to have a big year.”

Picayune’s Jamir Valentine (11) battles Harrison Central’s Chayce Johnson (11) for the rebound Tuesday. (Photo by Jackson Ranger)

Picayune’s Kelton Stewart (5) goes up with a shot as Harrison Central’s Kingston Donaldson defends Tuesday. (Photo by Jackson Ranger)

Picayune’s Kelton Stewart (5) dribbles the ball past Harrison Central’s Chayce Johnson Tuesday, Nov. 3, 2026. (Photo by Jackson Ranger)

Harrison Central’s coach Lorenzo Wright, who led Pascagoula to the Class 6A state championship earlier this year, addressed his team’s struggles with Picayune’s offensive success: “You’ve got to give Picayune credit, a veteran team that’s been together with coach Bowen now for three years, I think. So, they know all his offensive patterns, his offensive schemes. We got back-screened a lot, gave up a bunch of layups.

“We guarded really well,” said Wright of the positive things his team did. “We’ll get better defensively later in the season. Right now, we’re just kind of adjusting to new schemes, new ideas.”

Harrison Central’s Karmelo Laneaux (12) dribbles towards the basket vs. Picayune Tuesday. (Photo by Jackson Ranger)

Picayune’s Kasen Brumfield (12) takes aim on the basket vs. HCHS Tuesday. (Photo by Jackson Ranger)

Harrison Central’s Joseph McCray (15) surveys the situation as several Picayune defenders surround him Tuesday. (Photo by Jackson Ranger)

The loss snapped an 18-game win streak for Wight, that he helped construct at the end of last season as Pascagoula made that historic championship run.

Geriyn Brown led Harrison Central scorers with 9 points. Beaux Hover and Jamir Valentine each added 9 points for Picayune.

Harrison Central will play host Pass High on Thursday night in the Pass Christian Invitational. Picayune plays at Ocean Springs on Saturday afternoon to face the host Greyhounds in the OSHS Tip-off Classic.