Phillip McCray scored 41 points to lead the North Pike Jaguars over the South Pike Eagles 88-83 on Friday night in Magnolia.
North Pike head coach Keith Russ watched McCray do it and still couldn’t believe he totaled 41 points.
“You’re kidding,” Russ said.”I’m speechless.”
McCray had 22 at half and added 19 in the second half to keep the Jaguars out in front.
North Pike’s seven-point halftime lead was cut down to one three times in the third and once in the fourth, but the Jaguars never let South Pike tie it up or take a lead.
North Pike was 6-of-8 from the free throw line in the fourth, a far cry from its 0-for-4 start from the line in the first quarter.
The win comes on the heels of a similar game against McComb where the Jaguars weren’t able to hold on for the win.
On Friday, the delay game worked to run the clock late and them fresh on defense.
“We played a lot smarter down the stretch,” Russ said. “McCray stepped up as a senior and you want that from your seniors.”
McCray’s only bad decision of the night was trying to dunk a ball in the fourth quarter. He hit the rim square on and fell back as the ball dropped to the floor.
“That’s embarrassing,” McCray said. “You just have to hustle back and make up for it on defense.”
Three other Jaguars finished in double figures. Albert Matthews scored 19, and Ridgeland Smith and Mahmud Khased each scored 11. Smith grabbed 10 rebounds and had four blocks, as well.
South Pike was led by Donerrick Ellzey who scored 21 points with the help of his five 3-pointers. Devon Malone scored 16, Calvin Campbell added 13 off the bench and Leslie Jones scored 10.
South Pike’s second half outside shooting kept it in the game as the Eagles came back from a 13-point deficit in the middle of the third quarter and closed to within three after trailing by 12 with three minutes remaining.
South Pike 74, North Pike 37
The South Pike girls had four players score in double figures to help beat the North Pike girls Friday night.
Ivielle Stewart scored 15 points, Kampatrice Slocum had 12 and Kierra Addison and Takeya Felder each scored 11 points. Slocum also had 10 boards.
North Pike was led by U’leisha Smith with 12 points. Brittany Patterson scored six and grabbed eight rebounds. JonTesha Robinson scored eight down low for the Jaguars.
McComb splits with Forest Hill
In what may become a battle for first place in District 6-4A, the McComb Tigers boys lost 79-77 to the Forest Hill Rebels on Friday night in Jackson.
Mitchell Thompson scored 21 for McComb. Kiam Magee added 18, Derrick Harris scored 14 and Bobby Felder pitched in 12.
The McComb girls won 50-40 to put themselves in the running as well, as Alisha Rayborn scored 22 and Portia Craft added 14. The Tigers led 22-9 at the half.
