Wednesday, February 03, 2010

Second-half comeback propels Wildcats to 70-66 division road win over Hinds
PRCC men in tie for first in South with Jones; Pearl River women fall 63-55 to Lady Bulldogs

    UTICA — Pearl River’s Wildcats bounced back from a seven-point halftime deficit here Monday to take a 70-66 MACJC South Division victory over Hinds.
    PRCC’s men improved to 15-4 overall and 6-2 in division play, while the Lady Wildcats fell 63-55 to the host Lady Bulldogs and dropped to 7-12 and 1-7 (last in the division). Hinds’ men dropped to 16-4 and 5-3, while its women are now 6-14 and 2-6.
    The Wildcats entered the game in a three-way tie for first place in the South with Hinds and Jones County and exited tied with JCJC — a 91-85 winner over division foe Mississippi Gulf Coast Monday in Ellisville.
    The Bulldogs led 35-27 at the intermission, but PRCC outscored their likes 43-31 in the second half to take the four-point victory.
    Hinds’ men defeated The River 85-81 in overtime in a previous meeting played Dec. 7 in Poplarville.
    Kenderek Washington of Hinds AHS paced the Wildcats with 19 points and 14 rebounds — both game-high totals — while Phillip Crawford of Mobile, Ala., scored 15 (seven rebounds), Rod Little of Moss Point 12, Emil Jones 10 points and 13 boards, the North Forrest recruit’s second straight double-double; Josh Moore of Jackson (Forest Hill High) eight, and Desmond Ratliff of Canton High six (four assists).
    For Hinds, Chris Wallace led the way with 17 points (five treys, six rebounds), Erik Burks 13, Ananza Richardson 12 (three treys, six rebounds), Mark Wilkerson 10, JaCorey Wright seven (four assists), Kenneth Jullin five, and Jarrell Wilson two.
    Pearl River was 28 of 69 (40.6 percent) from the field to Hinds’ 26-of-59 (44.1 percent) effort, while the Wildcats were six of 20 (30 percent) from three-point range to the Bulldogs’ 10 of 28 (35.7 percent) showing. Only a combined total of 26 foul shots were attempted in the game with PRCC sinking eight of 18 (44.4 percent) and HCC four of eight (50 percent).
    The River dominated the boards with 56 rebounds to Hinds’ 28.
    In women’s action, Hinds led 31-25 at the break, then outscored PRCC 32-30 in the second half to take the eight-point victory.
    Kenyatta Epps of Yazoo City paced Pearl River with a game-high 17 points, while Brittany Weathers of Oak Grove added 11, Shandell Peters of East Marion eight, Courtney Lacoste of Hancock County six, Charlene Green of South Pike five, Nicole Holder of Lumberton High four, and Sam Fairley of Hattiesburg High and Shundrea Windham of Laurel High, two each.
    For Hinds, Kenosha Graham and Kiana McCarty led the way with 15 points each, while Lashondra Dunson and Lilly Porter added nine each, Krystal Johnson seven, and Crystal Brown and Kemeika Bullock, four each.
    Pearl River was 22 of 67 (32.8 percent) from the field to Hinds’ 25-of-55 (45.5 percent) effort, while the Lady Wildcats were four of 21 (19 percent) from three-point range to the Lady Bulldogs’ five-of-15 (33.3 percent) showing. At the foul line, PRCC was seven of 12 (58.3 percent), while HCC was eight of 15 (53.3 percent).
    The Lady Wildcats defeated the Lady Bulldogs 77-65 in a previous meeting played Dec. 7 in Poplarville.
    PRCC travels to South Division rival Mississippi Gulf Coast in Perkinston Thursday for 6 p.m. (women) and 8 p.m. (men) games, then New Horizon visits The River for a men’s only contest Monday, Feb. 8, at 5 p.m. The Wildcats and Lady Wildcats play host to division foe Southwest Mississippi Thursday, Feb. 11, for 5 p.m. (women) and 7 p.m. (men) games.