Alabama Southern sweeps River in 2011-12 basketball openers

MONROEVILLE, Ala. Pearl River Community College opened its 2011-2012 women and men basketball season on a down note here Tuesday, as Alabama Southern tipped off its year with a sweep of the two squads. The Lady Wildcats blew a 32-28 halftime lead to fall 69-66, while the host Eagles took a 60-55 victory over the Wildcats. PRCC teams dropped to 0-1 overall, while ASCC improved to 1-0. In the women game, the Lady Eagles outscored The River 41-34 in the second half to overcome their four-point deficit at the intermission and secured the victory. Quentessa Bullock of East Marion High and Francheska Bowman out of Choctaw High in Ft. Walton Beach, Fla. (seven rebounds, two blocks), paced Pearl River with 11 points each, while Shanta Echols of Sumrall High (eight rebounds) and Branita Malone (eight rebounds), Bowman prep teammate in Florida, added eight each. Kalisha Washington out of Murrah High in Jackson (five rebounds) scored seven, Daiquari Raine of Poplarville High six (four rebounds), Samantha Gunn out of Velma Jackson High in Canton (six rebounds) and Chaquita McGee of Yazoo City High, four each; Shana Ward, an East Central CC transfer from Carthage, three; Kyiana Allen, a Southern Shreveport CC transfer from Ruston, La., and Alayna Bridges of Oak Grove High, two a piece; and Stephanie Fratesi out of Washington High in Leland, one. Point guard Toy Johnson of Pascagoula High dished off five assists. For ASCC, DeShante Lewis led all scorers in the contest with 30 points (four rebounds), while Nakiya Smith added 17 (five rebounds), Gabrielle Brown five (nine rebounds), Devina Moulds and Sherita Williams (five rebounds), four each; Valeeta Bellam three, and Jacquetta Green, Kaysha Murry, and Erica Stanley, two a piece. Jasmine Sanders had five rebounds for the Lady Eagles. Pearl River hit 65.2 percent (15 of 23) at the foul line to Alabama Southern 81.8 percent (18 of 22), while the Lady Wildcats were 25 of 64 (39.1 percent) from the field to the Lady Eagles 24 of 70 (34.3 percent) effort. From three-point range, PRCC was one of four (25 percent), while ASCC was three of 15 (20 percent). In the men game, the Eagles led 33-31 at the break before outscoring the Wildcats 27-24 in the second half to take the five-point victory. Yondarius Johnson, a Grambling State (La.) transfer from Plain Dealing, La., led Pearl River with 14 points, while Jeremy Moore out of Jim Hill High in Jackson and Derionne Stewart of Picayune Memorial High added seven each. Mike Henry of Wayne County High scored six, Daron Bell of Bay High (four rebounds) and Zane Knowles, a Grambling State (La.) transfer from Nassau, Bahamas (seven rebounds), five each; Jamaiason Hadley out of East Side High in Cleveland and Quentin Watkins out of Lanier High in Jackson (five rebounds), four each; Raheem England of Decatur, Ala., two; and Marcus Rawls of Picayune Memorial High one (four rebounds). Rodney Williams paced ASCC with a game-high 20 points, while Cyrus Lavant added 13 (four rebounds), Kendrick Atwood 11 (six rebounds), Mikwese Claybourne (four rebounds) and Brett Person (five rebounds), five each; Reshad Bickham four (four rebounds), and Courtney Warren two. Pearl River hit 52.6 percent (16 of 31) at the foul line to Alabama Southern 32.1 percent (nine of 28), while the Wildcats were 18 of 47 (38.3 percent) from the field to the Eagles 22 of 53 (41.5 percent) effort. From three-point range, PRCC was three of 14 (21.4 percent), while ASCC was seven of 20 (35 percent). The River returns to action when Baton Rouge CC (La.) hosts Thursday in Baton Rouge, La. (women 5 p.m., men 7 p.m.), then Holmes hosts Monday in Goodman at the same game times. The Wildcats tip off their home schedule Thursday, Nov. 10, when Southern Sports Academy visits Shivers Gymnasium for a 6 p.m. men only contest.