During the Martin Luther King, Jr. Classic at Lanier High School on Monday, Picayune couldn’t persevere over Vicksburg, the No. 5 team in 5A Mississippi basketball, losing 44-42.

“We missed a great opportunity to beat one of the best teams in the state,” Picayune boys Head Coach Kelton Thompson said. “We just got caught up in the game and couldn’t execute our easiest sets.”

Vickburg’s Kirk Parker guarded Picayune’s leading scorer this season, Stephane Ayangma, for the majority of the game, limiting him to eight points. However, the rest of the Tide team stepped up to keep the game close, but didn’t have enough juice to construct a run late in the game.

Picayune got on a hot streak behind the arc in the first quarter, sinking four 3-pointers to take a 14-13 lead. Although Vicksburg only scored six points in the third quarter, the game started to switch to their advantage after limiting Picayune to four points.

“That was our time to build on our lead we had at halftime, but we weren’t able to execute consistent possessions, which changed the game,” Thompson said.

Tide’s Marvun Arnold slotted 13 points, eight rebounds and four assists. Gary Travis also notched 13 points.

Gators’ Parker and Joe Thomas each scored 11 points.

Last year, the Tide went 12-17 overall and 3-5 in district play. In 2015, the team went 3-24 overall and 1-5 in the district.

“The players know we are in the rebuilding stage, but we are at that point now where we should come into games expecting to win,” Thompson said.

Once everyone knows their job on the court and what to do day-in and day-out, the game comes easier,” Thompson continued. “It’s like knowing how to build a puzzle. You start out with the corner pieces, build the trim and then strategically map out the rest. That’s how this process is and I am happy to be a part of it.”

Picayune is 1-4 in games that come down to a 3-point margin of victory, losing to Wayne County 51-48 in week one, D’Iberville 51-50, Hattiesburg 44-41 and Vicksburg 44-42; but winning against Salmen during the Hancock Tournament 43-41.

“If we can start building consistently good possessions throughout the game, we will start changing that outcome,” Thompson said.

Picayune will make a journey to Stone County on Friday in another district game. Tip-off is at 7:30 p.m.