LEAKESVILLE —
The boys basketball teams from both Both Picayune and Pearl River Central have enjoyed successful seasons on the hardwood.
Only one of the local rivals, however, will make it to the state playoffs.
The Maroon Tide and Blue Devils face off tonight around 8:30 in the opening round of the Division 8-5A Tournament at Kelly Wise Gym on the campus of Picayune High School. Not only is a berth in Friday night’s league championship game on the line, but a spot in the Class 5A South State playoffs is u for grabs as well.
For the team that loses, though, the season is over.
That contest is the featured one of a four game slate to tip-off the opening round. Picayune has beaten the Blue Devils twice this season in close games, by four points at home and by thre points on the road.
“It should be another close, competitive and exciting game,” first year Picayune head coach Scott Stephens said. “It should be a great atmosphere. I am glad we are at home, but I’d rather be playing someone else. I’d rather face Duke than those guys again after they way they have played us this year.”
The Maroon Tide stands 18-7 on the season, and PRC is 13-13. Picayune is the second seed, after finishing 4-2 in the regular season in league play, and the Blue Devils are the third seed after going 2-4. Both local teams were swept in the regular season by West Harrison, who is the top seed with a 6-0 mark. The Hurricanes face Long Beach, the fourth seed, in the other boys semifinal at 5:30.
The host Picayune girls tip off play in the tourney at 4 p.m., taking on West Harrison. The Lady Hurricanes are the top seed at 6-0, while the Picayune girls and Long Beach girls both finished at 1-5 but the Lady ‘Cats won the tie-breaker. Long Beach will face the Pearl River Central girls at 7.
The Lady Tide have managed just two wins this season.
The West Harrison boys and the Picayune girls are the defending district champions. The winners of tonight’s two girls games will face off at 6 p.m., Friday night for the league title and the survivors of tonight’s pair of boys contests will follow at 7:30 to decide the league winner as well.
The PRC girls are trying to reach the state playoffs for just the second time in the past two decades. The Lady Devils are the second seed, and stand 14-12 overall.
The Picayune boys will be trying to avoid the same results the Maroon Tide encountered the last time the district tourney took place in Kelly Wise. Three years ago, after beating Stone County twice in the regular season, the Tomcats upset homestanding Picayune to earn a playoff bid.
A win by the PRC boys would mean a rare playoff appearance for the Blue Devils.
For the losers of tonights game, the season is over. Friday’s finals will determine the seedings and the host teams for the Class 5A South State playoffs, which begin on Monday for the girls and on Tuesday for the boys.
Sports
Maroon Tide, Blue Devils face off tonight
- Sports
-
-
Season ends for Maroon Tide
The season came to an end for the Picayune baseball team Saturday afternoon with a 5-3 loss to homestanding Pascagoula here at Ingalls Field in the third and deciding game of the Class 5A South State championship series.
-
Tide stays alive
And it all comes down to this.
Picayune and Pascagoula will face off in a one game, winner take all
showdown today at 2 p.m., at Ingalls Field for the Class A South State
prep baseball championship and the right to play for the state title. -
Wildcats tring to win Region 23 title
Host Pearl River opened Region 23 Tournament play in dominating fashion here Thursday in Wildcat Stadium, demolishing top-seeded East Central 12-1 in eight innings and now faces second-seeded LSU-Eunice (La.) in Friday’s second round at 7 p.m.
-
Panther pitcher shuts out Maroon Tide
Pascagoula’s Andrew Crane continued his dominance of Picayune Thursday night.
-
Season ends for Lady Hornets
Poplarville's season came to and end in the Class 4A South state finals Tuesday night.
The visiting Lady Hornets fell to Newton County 10-2 in game two of the best-of-three series. -
Lady Hornets face Newton County
Two more wins, and Poplarville will be playing for the Class 4A state championship in fast-pitch softball.
The Lady Hornets have a chance at getting that first victory today. -
Polderman’s, Mitchell win titles
The Picayune Maroon Tide and the Pearl River Central Blue Devils both competed in the Class 5A South State track and field championships this past Saturday at Long Beach High School.
-
Tide sweeps; Devils swept
Picayune finished the regular season nine games under the break even mark.
But, four games into the Class 5A South State playoffs. the Maroon Tide is unbeaten. -
Lady Hornets beat North Pike
Poplarville is moving on to the Class 4A South State finals.
The Lady Hornets swept the best-of-three semifinal series with North Pike, completing the affair with a 2-0 road win Monday night. -
Tide sweeps; Devils swept
Picayune swept Pearl to advance in the Class 5A South State prep baseball playoffs over the weekend while Pearl River Central got swept by Stone County.
- More Sports Headlines
-
Season ends for Maroon Tide
Probe Begins After Conn. Commuter Trains Crash
NTSB Begins Investigation Into Conn. Train Crash
Lotto Fever Sweeps the Country
Conn. Commuter Trains Collide; 60 Go to Hospital
Coffee Run Leads to Hatchet Hitchhiker Arrest
Fmr. IRS Head Insists No Politics in Targeting
CDC: Fecal Bacteria Common in Swimming Pools
$1 Million in Jewels Stolen at Cannes Film Fest
NM Mom Chases Down Child Abductor
Raw: Crash Sends Car Into Fla. Pool
Raw: Obama Sits Down With Elementary Kids
Raw: Bear Falls From Tampa Tree
Ousted IRS Chief: Errors Not Caused by Politics
Terror Suspect Due in Court in Idaho Friday
Raw: Driver Ejected From Truck, Over Bridge
Could Tobacco Be the Next Biofuel?
Wash. State Releases Draft Rules for Legal Pot
Dying Man's Blinks Lead to Murder Conviction
Officials: Texas Tornado Likely Had 200 Mph Wind
Brothers Arrested in NOLA Parade Shooting
