Pearl River splits with Jones in South Division openers
Lady Wildcats lose 66-63, Wildcats hang on for 91-87 win

    ELLISVILLE — Pearl River Community College split with rival Jones in both school’s men’s and women’s MACJC South Division openers here Monday with the Lady Wildcats falling 66-63 and the Wildcats staving off a second-half Bobcat comeback to take a 91-87 victory.
    PRCC’s men improved to 7-5 overall and 1-0 in division play, while its women fell to 1-11 and 0-1. The host Bobcats dropped to 2-7 and 0-1, while the Lady ’Cats improved to 6-5 and 1-0.
    Lady Wildcat head coach Ed Walley got an improved effort from his squad with freshman forward Dee Robertson of North Forrest putting on a command performance with a career-high 18 points, complimented by a game-high 13 rebounds, six blocked shots, and five steals.
    PRCC led for the first six minutes of the game, but JCJC’s Ashley Green bucketed her only three pointer of the night at the 11:52 mark to put the Lady Bobcats up 11-10 and kick off a 13-6 run to give Jones its largest lead of the half at 24-16 with 5:50 left before the intermission.
    Pearl River answered with a 13-2 scoring surge to regain the lead at 29-26 at the 1:39 mark, capped by a three-point play by point Tanesha Stokes of East Marion. The Lady Wildcats outscored the hosts 6-3 from that point to lead 35-29 at the half.
    Jones opened the second half with a 12-3 run to regain the lead at 41-39, but PRCC fought back to got up 59-56 with 3:40 left off back-to-back buckets by Stokes. The Lady Bobcats closed out the battle with a 10-4 run to take the three-point victory.
    Besides Robertson, who was nine of 13 from the field, LaTerrica Booth of Bassfield added 16 points and hauled in eight boards; while Stokes scored nine, Calla Daggins of Mereaux, La., eight, Brittany Blackston of Hattiesburg High and Angela Miller of Penbroke, Ga., four each; and Ashley Jones of Florence and Shannon Primos of Forrest County AHS, two each.
    Kelsey Hopkins paced JCJC with 18 (eight rebounds), while Rosemary Green added 12 (seven rebounds), Chinita Steele 11 (six rebounds), Deanna Powe eight, Chelsey Sumrall seven (one trey), Ashley Green six (one trey), Kandace Russell three, and Courtney Thomas one.
    The foul line played a huge role in the outcome, as PRCC sank seven of 11 (63.6 percent) of its attempts to JCJC’s 18 of 29 (62.1 percent) effort. Pearl River was zero for 14 from three-point range, while JCJC was two of 18 (11.1 percent).
    From the field, the Lady Wildcats were 28 of 67 (41.8 percent); while the Lady Bobcats were 23 of 67 (34.3 percent).
    In the men’s game, Jones fought back from a 28-point halftime deficit only to fall five points shy of victory.
    Pearl River dominated in the first half, grabbing a commanding 57-29 lead at the half; but Jones outscored the Wildcats 58-34 in the second half.
Alton Robinson, a Colorado State signee from Hattiesburg High, paced the Wildcats with 26 points (12 rebounds), while Wesley Jones of Beatrice, Ala., added 19 and hauled in a game-high 17 boards. Jamar Flowers of White Castle, La., scored 16, Darius Acker of St. Stanislaus, Marquez Singleton of Bay High, and Chasen Uptain of Poplarville, seven a piece; Jacoby Rawls of Sumrall five, and Tyshawn Brown of Gulfport High and Jeremy Holder of Lumberton High, two each.
    Duran Eckford led JCJC with a game-high 35 points, while Clinton Thomas Jr. added 18, James Bender 13, Ellis Lanksten seven, Prince Trotter six, Jerome Thompson four, and Skyler Culberson and Broderick McMillan, two each.
From the foul line, PRCC was 33 of 49 (67.3 percent), while JCJC was 11 of 24 (45.8 percent).
    Pearl River returns to action Thursday when it hosts division foe Meridian at 6 p.m. (women) and 8 p.m. (men) in the Poplarville High gymnasium.
 

Pearl River @ Jones
MACJC women’s and men’s South Division basketball games
played Jan. 9, 2006 @ Ellisville, MS
 

WOMEN
Jones 66, Pearl River 63
Halftime: 35-29 (PRCC)
 

Scorers
PEARL RIVER (1-11, 0-1): Dee Robertson 18 (13 RB, 6 blocks, 5 steals, 9-13 FG), LaTerrica Booth 16 (8 RB), Tanesha Stokes 9, Calla Daggins 8, Brittany Blackston 4, Angela Miller 4, Shannon Primos 2, Ashley Jones 2.
 

JONES (5-5, 1-0): Kelsey Hopkins 18 (8 RB), Rosemary Green 12 (7 RB), Chinita Steele 11 (6 RB), Deanna Powe 8, Chelsey Sumrall 7 (1 trey), Ashley Green 6 (1 trey), Kandace Russell 3, Courtney Thomas 1.
 

FREE THROWS: PRCC — 7-11 (63.6%), JCJC — 18-29 (62.1%).
THREE POINTERS: PRCC — 0-14 (00%), JCJC — 2-18 (11.1%).
FIELD GOALS: PRCC — 28-67 (41.8%), JCJC — 23-67 (34.3%).
 

MEN
Pearl River 91, Jones 87
Halftime: 57-29 (PRCC)
 

Scorers
PEARL RIVER (7-5, 1-0): Alton Robinson 26 (12 RB), Wesley Jones 19 (17 RB), Jamar Flowers 16, Darius Acker 7, Marquez Singleton 7, Chasen Uptain 7, Jacoby Rawls 5, Tyshawn Brown 2, Jeremy Holder 2.
 

JONES (2-7, 0-1): Duran Eckford 35, Clinton Thomas Jr. 18, James Bender 13, Ellis Lanksten 7, Prince Trotter 6, Jerome Thompson 4, Skyler Culberson 2, Broderick McMillan 2.
 

FREE THROWS: PRCC — 33-49 (67%), JCJC — 11-24 (46%).
THREE POINTERS: PRCC — NA, JCJC — NA.
FIELD GOALS: PRCC — NA, JCJC — NA.
 

UP NEXT: It’s more MACJC South Division action Thursday when PRCC hosts Meridian in the Poplarville High gymnasium. Women: 6 p.m., Men: 8 p.m.