By CURTIS ROCKWELL

Item Sports Editor

Both Picayune teams continued their recent winning ways Tuesday night, as the Maroon Tide and the Lady Tide recorded Division 8-4A wins against visiting Bay High in Kelly Wise Gym.

The Lady Tide won their second straight game, after opening the season with nine straight losses, as they beat the perennial power Lady Tigers 49-42.

In the boy’s game, the Maroon Tide won their sixth straight game thanks to a big second half comeback and sent the Tigers packing 60-55.

“It was a big win, because this was a statement game,” first year Maroon Tide head coach Thomas Taylor said. “Bay is considered one of the better teams in our division, and it was a game we needed to win.”

Picayune fell behind by double digits in the first half, and trailed 30-20 at halftime.

But the third period would be the key for the Maroon Tide, as Taylor’s troops went on a 17-5 run over the first six minutes after intermission to take a 37-35 lead.

Vince Gable hit a 12-foot jumper with three seconds left in the quarter, giving Picayune a 39-37 advantage entering the final period and Picayune never trailed again.

“We played in the third quarter like I know we are capable of,” Taylor added.

Gable and Lloyd Hall both had 20 points to pace Picayune, while Reggie Bailey came off the bench to chip in 10 to the winning cause. The Tide is 6-3 overall and 3-0 in league play.

• The Lady Tide trailed most of the first three quarters before making their move for a comeback win as well.

Picayune used a 10-0 run in the fourth period to turn a 37-35 deficit into a 45-37 lead and held on for the win, handing Bay High its first division loss.

Monique Brown scored 13 for Picayune and Andrea Jackson added 12. The Lady Tide is 2-1 in league play.

“It comes down to who executes the best on any given night will win the game,” Lady Tide head coach Kristie Mitchell said. “We have been playing much better. We have to play our game and not the opponent.”