By Curtis Rockwell, Sports Editor
The Picayune Item
CARRIERE —
The boys basketball team at Pearl River Central High School will be on the road for their next three games.
It’s not just your normal type of road trip, however.
The Blue Devils leave today on a five day adventure, as they will take part in the KSA Pre-Holiday Basketball Tournament in Orlando, Fla., at the Walt Disney World Sports Complex.
The Blue Devils will play three games in three days beginning Thursday against some of the toughest competition in the nation.
“It’s a good opportunity for our players,” first year PRC head coach Ronnie Bowens said. “It should be a good experience for them.”
The Blue Devils stand 9-6 on the season, and are coming off a big win over Pearl River County rival Poplarville Tuesday night.
The visiting Blue Devils took a hard fought 90-82 win over the Hornets. Senior point guard Dennan Seal tallied a game high 32 points for PRC, while Ashton Woodson poured in 31 points as well in the win. Seth McCoy added eight points.
Seal had 18 points in the first half, including 11 in the opening quarter thanks to a pair of 3-pointers, as the Blue Devils took a 10-point advantage after the first frame at 25-15.
PRC protected that double digit advantage at halftime, 47-37, and Woodson tallied 20 of his total in the second half as the Blue Devils held off the homestanding Hornets.
Alex Travis paced Poplarville with 28 points and Rojae Raine chipped in 25 points as well.
The Blue Devils have won two of their past three games entering the tourney in the Sunshine State, with their only loss coming in a close decision to perennial power Gulfport.
PRC opens play in the event Thursday against Erie (Pa.) Catholic Prep. The tourney will be the last action of the year for the Blue Devils before they open Region 8-5A play in three weeks against arch-rival Picayune.
“This is the perfect time of the year to be playing better,” Bowens added. “We just hope we can go down there and play well and keep some of that momentum when we get back home and start getting ready for district.”
