JACKSON — It’s been a while since Picayune has played for basketball state championship.
15 years.
Well, that drought is over after the Maroon Tide held to beat Provine 60-49 in the Semifinal Round of the MHSAA Boys Class 5A Basketball playoffs on Tuesday night.
The Maroon Tide (20-15) will face Hattiesburg for the Class 5A State Championship on Friday night at 7 p.m. The last time Picayune was in the state title was in 2008 and is still seeking first state title in boys basketball.
“For us we’ve been tested before and they presented some different challenges and for us everything starts with defense,” said Picayune coach Eric Vianney. “That’s what we establish ourselves on and when we get some stops that is when we can run and make shots.”
Provine held a slim 7-5 lead at the end of the first quarter.
Midway through the second quarter Picayune went on a 13-5 run to take a 18-15 lead and eventually held a 21-20 lead at halftime.
The third quarter was back and forth that saw the Maroon Tide lead 34-30 heading into the final quarter.
The Rams went on a quick 5-2 run to cut the Picayune lead down to one at 36-35.
And from that point it was all Picayune as the Maroon Tide went on a 13-0 run to take a 49-35 lead and seal the game.
“We had some guys step up and make shots. Carter is a senior and is a guy that can shoot the ball and he showed out tonight,” Vianney said. “We can live to fight for another day and it will be a good one on Friday against Hattiesburg. Ernie is a great coach and good friend, so it’ll be a battle.”
Troy Carter had 23 points to lead Picayune, while Joshua Holmes added 16 points for the Maroon Tide.
“Everybody counted us out and we wanted it more than them,” Carter said. “We just had a spark plug and it starts on defense and we got shots and then made shots. Hattiesburg will be fun on Friday and we will be ready.”
Tye Gholar had 11 points to lead Provine (24-8).
Hattiesburg 61, Canton 51
Darrian Johnson scored a game-high 19 points as Hattiesburg held off Canton in the all-Tiger matchup in the Semifinal Round of the MHSAA Boys Class 5A playoffs.
Hattiesburg (23-7) will play Picayune for the Class 5A State Championship on Friday at 7 p.m.
Jabari Walker added 14 points, while Stephen McCullon chipped in 13 points for Hattiesburg.
Deandre Lewis had 15 points to lead Canton (22-7).
Coahoma County 45, Newton 32
Demarjay Rucker had 10 points as the Red Panthers used a 18-2 run in the second quarter along with a defense that forced 22 turnovers to get past the Tigers in the Semifinal Round of the MHSAA Boys Class 2A playoffs.
Coahoma County (29-2) will face Region 3-2A foe Northside for the Class 2A State Championship on Friday at 3 p.m.
Caleb Hearn added nine points for Coahoma County, including a half-court buzzer beating shot at the end of the first quarter.
Tyreke Snow had eight points to lead Newton (19-11).
Northside 57, Bogue Chitto 40
Lamont White scored 15 points as the Gators used a big second half to get past the Bobcats in the Semifinal Round of the MHSAA Boys Class 2A playoffs.
Northside (19-12) will face Region 3-2A foe Coahoma County for the Class 2A State Championship on Friday at 3 p.m.
Tyshun Appleton added 11 points for the Gators.
Devonta Thompson had a game-high 17 points to lead Bogue Chitto (22-6).
Girls
Callaway 68, Laurel 37
Jahanna Wilson scored a game-high 25 points as the Lady Chargers raced out to a 34-7 halftime lead and never looked back as they raced past the Golden Tornadoes.
Callaway (27-6) will face West Jones for the Class 5A State Championship on Friday at 5 p.m.
Anissa Branson added 21 points for the Lady Chargers.
Marissa Ulmer and Zykeria Evans each had eight points to lead Laurel (19-10).
West Jones 54, Lafayette 39
Aasia Wilson and Halei Keyes each scored 16 points apiece as the Lady Mustangs held off the Lady Commodores.
West Jones (28-2) will play for Callaway for the Class 5A State Championship on Friday at 5 p.m.
Jakera Ducksworth added 13 points for the Lady Mustangs.
Mariah Reed-Jones had a game-high 20 points to lead Lafayette (23-7).
Lake 60, Belmont 48
The Lady Hornets scored 40 second half points to erase a halftime deficit to get past the Lady Cardinals in the Semifinal Round of the MHSAA Class 2A playoffs.
Lake (23-9), the defending Class 2A state champions, will face Heidelberg for the Class 2A State Championship on Friday at 1 p.m.
Laneisha Palm had a game-high 17 points to lead Lake, while Brooklyn Harris added 14 points for the Lady Hornets.
Mary Grace Storment had 16 points to lead Belmont, while Sadie Randolph added 12 points for the Lady Cardinals (26-6).
Heidelberg 59, East Webster 33
After a slow first half the Lady Oilers scored 22 points in both the third and fourth quarters to race past the Lady Wolverines in the Semifinal Round of the MHSAA Class 2A playoffs.
Heidelberg (26-6) will face Lake for the Class 2A State Championship on Friday at 1 p.m.
Annearrea Ducksworth scored a game-high 24 points to lead Heidelberg, while Mariyah Farrell added 14 points for the Lady Oilers.
Da’Asia Logan had 11 points to lead East Webster, while Shameriah Culpepper added 10 points for the Lady Wolverines (23-11).