POPLARVILLE, Miss. — The Pearl River men's basketball team extended a pair of impressive streaks Monday night inside Marvin R. White Coliseum, earning its 16th consecutive conference-opening victory and 14th straight win over East Central with a 90-62 decision.
The last time Pearl River fell to the Warriors came Feb. 17, 2017 — just over 3,200 days ago.
"We looked a lot better tonight — we were healthier," head coach Chris Oney said. "Moving forward, we can be more lethal coming out with four guards and playing around different guys.
"Sometimes it takes freshmen until around this time to get used to the speed of the game and the things we demand at Pearl River. We're starting to see them adjust."
Pearl River (9-7 overall; 1-0 MACCC) wasted no time seizing control against East Central (4-10; 0-1), opening the night on an 11-2 run and scoring the first eight points of the game. Lazarus Mason (Atlanta, Ga.; Grayson) knocked down a 3-pointer before finishing on the fast break and converting an and-one to push the lead to six. Christian Gilliland (Memphis, Tenn.; ABC Prep) followed with a driving layup, and Reece Garrison (Olive Branch) capped the spurt with a shot from beyond the arc.
The Wildcats stretched the margin to nine on a highlight-reel connection between Daijon Leatherman (Slidell, La.; Legacy School of Sports and Sciences) and Kamarian Mayfield (Waynesboro; Quitman). Leatherman lofted a perfect hook pass that Mayfield caught and flushed home in one motion for a 17-6 advantage. The lead grew to 15 moments later when Devonta Thompson (Bogue Chitto) picked the Warriors' pocket and pushed the ball ahead for another Mayfield basket, making it 21-6.
Near the midway point of the first half, Pearl River rattled off six straight to go in front 31-11. Leatherman cleaned up an offensive rebound for a bucket, and Gilliland followed with a floater and a corner 3-pointer. East Central trimmed the deficit before Mayfield ignited the crowd again, soaring for a ferocious tomahawk slam to restore momentum at 35-20.
The Wildcats closed the half strong, taking their largest lead of the opening period on a Jason Talbert (Cleveland; Cleveland Central) 3-pointer with 12 seconds remaining. Pearl River carried a 50-30 advantage into halftime.
Pearl River stayed hot to start the second half, opening on a 15-2 run. Mayfield scored four points, Gilliland added five, Talbert chipped in three and Garrison contributed two as the Wildcats surged ahead 65-32. Mayfield continued to add to his highlight package down the stretch, finishing loose balls with emphatic slams and throwing down additional tomahawk dunks. Austin Fortune (Atlanta, Ga.; Dutchtown) added a breakaway one-hand slam before Pearl River closed out its MACCC opener with a 90-62 victory.
LEADING THE WAY
Gilliland eclipsed the 20-point mark for the 12th time this season, pouring in 28 points while adding four rebounds, three assists and a steal. Mayfield finished with 20 points and nine rebounds.
"When I saw Kam this summer, I thought he and Christian together would really be something," Oney said. "It's hard for them both to have off nights with their play styles. They get in gaps and make plays."
Leatherman rounded out the Wildcats in double figures with an impressive 15-point, 15-rebound double-double. Garrison turned in a well-rounded performance with eight points, seven assists, four rebounds and three steals.
NEXT UP
Pearl River returns to action Thursday with a 7:30 p.m. tipoff at Mississippi Delta against the Trojans.
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