McComb wasn’t exactly an offensive stalwart Monday night in the first day of the South Pike basketball tournament.
Luckily, the Tigers hardly needed to be as they piggybacked off a strong performance from their defense in a 68-34 blowout win over North Pike.
McComb, which shot only 35 percent, held North Pike to 31 percent from the field and caused 23 turnovers. Many of the turnovers led to easy baskets for the Tigers and enabled a big lead after three quarters.
“They played a real slow game and we were able to put them in a position we wanted them in and not let them get to the basket,” McComb coach Hilton Harrell said.
McComb packed into a 2-3 zone defense the entire night, and North Pike struggled mightily. Ehen the Jaguars did have opportunities, it went by the wayside. The Tigers limited the Jaguars to minimal second-chance opportunities and ended up with a 43-27 rebounds advantage.
Stacey Mack was a force to be reckoned with down low for McComb and finished with 12 points, 12 rebounds and two blocks.
“He’s been big,” Harrell said. “That’s what he’s been doing the last couple of ball games.”
The lanky 6-foot, 6-inch forward scored half of his points on offensive rebounds and altered a handful of shots on defense.
North Pike coach Keith Russ said it was more than just McComb’s obvious size advantage down low.
“Size don’t really make a difference if you’re not boxing out. … We didn’t do the fundamental things to get rebounds,” Russ said.
The Jaguars didn’t have a scorer in double-figures and couldn’t make a 3-pointer, despite the zone defense. Xavius Turner led North Pike with nine points and five rebounds and D’Hendrick Wells added seven points.
Antonio Johnson led McComb with 13 points and three steals. LeDerrius Simmons and Antonio Cowart added eight points each.
McComb will wrap up the tournament at 7:30 p.m. Wednesday against South Pike. North Pike and Wilkinson County meet today at 4:30.
Lady Tigers grab ‘ugly’ win
McComb’s girls basketball team wasn’t challenged Monday despite an uninspiring 42-28 win over North Pike.
The Lady Tigers finished just 15 of 52 from the field (28 percent) and committed 15 turnovers. The Lady Jaguars didn’t fare any better, finishing 11 of 44 (25 percent) with 23 turnovers.
“It was an ugly win,” McComb girls coach Angelia Johnson said. “The last couple of games, it’s been the same as in years past.”
McComb has struggled with inconsistencies early in the season during the past several years, and it seems the Lady Tigers have reverted back to their old habits.
Both teams started slow and McComb took a 19-12 lead into halftime, before opening things up with a 31-19 lead in the fourth quarter.
Angelina Earl led all scorers with 15 points on 5 of 19 shooting to go along with four rebounds and four steals. Angelique Earl added nine points and 13 rebounds while Raneka Felder had six points and 10 rebounds.
“In terms of effort, I’m very disappointed in the effort — especially the communication on the floor,” Johnson said.
McComb was successful with its defensive pressure, however, forcing a slew of North Pike turnovers.
Meanwhile, North Pike’s offense couldn’t muster up anything as only three players scored. Nicole Jefferson had a strong game with 11 points, 18 rebounds and eight steals. Rickera Martin chipped in with nine points and Ja’Lisa McDowell had eight points.
North Pike wraps up the tournament today at 3 p.m. against Wilkinson County, while McComb has a day off until Wednesday, when it battles with South Pike at 6.
