They don’t have a flashy perimeter threat that averages more than 25 points per game.
What the Wayne County War Eagles do have are several key ingredients that make them a definite threat to the McComb Tigers’ run toward a state championship.
The two teams will square off tonight in the second round of the boys’ Class 5A South State basketball tournament at the McComb High gym.
Tip-off is set for 6 p.m.
Fans are asked to come early and bring their white towels to cheer the Tigers on to victory.
“They’re the mirror image of us. Like us, they have real balanced scoring,” McComb head coach Hilton Harrell said. “We both have 10 or 12 guys that can score five or six points every game.”
Wayne County (24-2) enters tonight on an 14-game winning streak. The War Eagles’ last loss came Dec. 28 in an 80-63 defeat at the hands of Jackson Provine.
McComb comes into tonight’s matchup on a roll as well. After scoring 98 points against West Jones on Feb. 9 and a 101-point performance and win over Long Beach on Tuesday, the Tigers (25-5) are in the midst of their biggest scoring binge of the season.
In their past two games — against Forest Hill and Long Beach, respectively — the Tigers’ new 1-3-1 zone defense has shut down two perimeter-minded offenses. Wayne County, Harrell said, is different.
“They attack the glass, get a lot of baskets inside,” he said. “They’ve got some size to them.”
Wayne County’s offense is captained by point guard Donte Pittman. The 5-foot-10 junior enters tonight’s game averaging 14.2 points per game.
The War Eagles’ inside attack is led by Donta Russell, a 6-foot-4, 155-pound senior that has averaged 8.6 points per game this season.
Six-foot-3 forward Rayford Worsham also has been a key in the War Eagles’ attack, averaging 8.9 points per contest.
