By CURTIS ROCKWELL

Item Sports Editor

Picayune lost just about every player that made any type of contribution to last years Class 4A state runner-up squad.

On the other hand, St. Stanislaus returns just about every player that made any type of contribution to last years squad that also made it to the Class 4A overall state tournament in Jackson.

And yet tonight, just like it has been many times over the past few seasons, both teams meet once again with first place in Division 8-4A on the line.

The Maroon Tide hosts the Rockachaws at Kelly Wise gym, and both teams are unbeaten in league play.

Picayune has won six straight games overall, and three straight in league action and stands 6-3 and 3-0.

SSC, which Picayune has beaten five straight times on the hardwood, including four times last season, stands 10-2 overall and 2-0 in league play and is ranked seventh overall in the state of Mississippi.

PRC swept

In other prep basketball action, Pearl River Central dropped a pair of games Thursday in the Wills Valley Shootout in Fort Payne, Ala.

The Blue Devils lost to the host team Fort Payne High 80-58. Josh Nixon had a career high 34 points for the PRC boys, while Je’Barr Locure added 18.

The Lady Devils fell 56-51 to Abbeville, Ala. Kayla Drummond tallied a game high 33 points for the PRC girls, while Shaneka Fowler added 10 points.The PRC boys play at Noon today against Lawrence County, Ala., while the PRC girls follow at 1:30 against Columbia, Ala.