Wildcats advance to semis with win over Lions

SENATOBIA – It was business as usual for Pearl River Community College, and business was good for the Wildcats in the opening round of the MACJC State Basketball Tournament.

The Wildcats got balanced scoring, with five players in double figures, as PRCC rolled to an 80-63 victory over East Mississippi Monday afternoon at Howard Coliseum on the campus of Northwest Mississippi Community College.

Pearl River (19-4) advanced to face Holmes at 2 p.m. Wednesday in the first of two men’s semifinal games. Holmes crushed Mississippi Gulf Coast 85-57 in the early game on Monday. East Mississippi completed its season 12-12.

“It has been going just like that,” said PRCC coach Chris Oney. “Our defense really carried us, the way it has all year.”

The Wildcats held the Lions to just 29.0 percent from the field (9 of 31) and blocked six shots, three by sophomore Jartavius Dobbs (Aberdeen) in the first half, as PRCC took command, building a nine-point lead.

“Jartavius has been really active these past few games, because he’s finally got some true post players to go up against,” said Oney. “His length, when he’s playing his game, presents teams with a lot of problems on the defensive end.”