Pearl River falls in Region 23 Quarterfinal
Dylan Dunaway - PRCC Sports Information Director
SCOOBA, Miss. — For just the second time in the last five years, Region 23 will have a different representative at the National Tournament as a last-second Pearl River shot clanked off the rim for a 56-53 loss at East Mississippi.
The Wildcats finish the 2022-23 campaign with an 18-8 overall record.
GAME RECAP
The Wildcats gave themselves an early 10-3 lead aided by a Dyllion Redmond (Jackson; Callaway) put-back slam and a Carlous Williams (Hattiesburg; Harrison Central) 3-pointer.
East Mississippi (20-5) roared back to tie things at 15-15, but PRCC quickly snatched the lead right back, 19-15, with a Cam Brown (Hattiesburg) offensive rebound and layup as well as a breakaway layup from Dylan Brumfield (Oak Grove).
PRCC took its biggest lead of the night, 30-21, at around the 3:30 mark as Brown hit from beyond the arc. The Lions got a basket back off a put-back with just over one minute left in the half and the Wildcats eventually took a 30-23 advantage into the half.
The EMCC second-half strategy was working as the Lions roared back to take a 34-32 lead. The teams went back-and-forth over a seven-minute stretch of the game to find themselves locked in a 40-40 tie.
PRCC retook the lead with a Brown 3-point shot and layup as well as a Brumfield put-back, but East Mississippi again fought back to square things at 47-47.
Brown knocked down a pair of free throws after a technical foul was issued on East Mississippi to hand PRCC a 49-47 advantage.
Brumfield helped tie the contest, 51-51, with 2:50 remaining on the clock, slashing inside for a layup that bounced around the rim before falling.
Trailing 55-51, Brumfield kicked a pass inside to a crashing Williams who laid it off the glass to cut the PRCC deficit to two points, 55-53.
After a string of fouls and timeouts, PRCC had just a few seconds remaining on the clock and needed a miracle to win the game. The Wildcats pushed the ball down the court and dished off to Brown in the corner, but his off-balance heave bounced off the backboard and rim before falling to the ground for a 56-53 loss.
Dylan Brumfield (Hattiesburg, Oak Grove) launches a shot.
BY THE NUMBERS
Brown finished the night with 17 points, knocking down a trio of 3-pointers. Brumfield was second on the team with 15 points. Williams was the only other Wildcat in double figures with 13 points.
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