Men's Basketball | 1/20/2018 5:43:00 PM

ELLISVILLE – It was a typical "Catfight on the Court" here Saturday afternoon at A.B. Howard Gymnasium.
Unfortunately, Jones County Junior College came up just short against Pearl River Community College.
The Bobcats just missed on a 30-footer at the buzzer and Pearl River escaped with a 74-73 victory.
Pearl River had taken a 70-59 lead with 7:20 left when Kirk Parker scored on a putback.
The Bobcats then went on a 12-0 run and went ahead 71-70 with 3:26 remaining when David Gaines, Jr. (Wayne County) scored on an offensive rebound.
Eric Thornton, Jr.'s two free throws at 3:08 and Parker's putback at 2:36 put the Wildcats up, 74-71.
Gaines' layup off a Malik Henry (Terry) assist with 1:27 to play cut the lead to 74-73.
The Bobcats had a chance to go ahead with 42 seconds remaining, but missed a shot. After PRCC missed a shot, JCJC had ball possession with 14.3 seconds left. But JCJC turned the ball over and PRCC got the ball.
PRCC's Jonas James III was fouled with 4.5 seconds to play and went to the line with a one and one. He missed the first shot and the Bobcats got the rebound.
Henry got the ball quickly to Winceton Edwards (Oak Grove) in front of the Bobcat bench. Edwards was guarded closely and somehow got a shot off from about 30 feet away. It just missed at the buzzer and Pearl River secured the win.
The game was close throughout.
JCJC took its longest lead of the game at 22-17 with 7:51 left in the first half when Gaines scored on a putback. But PRCC came back and took a 37-32 lead with 2:18 showing when Brandon Cranford hit a 3-pointer.
Jones tied it at 37-37 with 1:26 left in the half when Henry made a layup, but the Wildcats would lead 41-37 at halftime.
The Wildcats took its longest lead of the game at 61-47 with 12:16 remaining when James made a free throw.
An Edwards' 3-pointer from the left corner with 8:26 left got the Bobcats within 66-59.
Henry led the Bobcats with 19 points. Edwards and David McCoy (Meridian) added 13 each, Mason Daniels (Atlanta, Georgia) had 11 and Gaines added 10.
Gaines and Henry each had 9 rebounds. Michael Williams (Rayville, Louisiana) had 6 assists and Henry had 4. 
The Bobcats were 30-of-58 from the field (9-of-14 from 3-point range) for 52 percent. Jones was 4-of-4 from the foul line.
The Wildcats outrebounded JCJC, 31-29.
JCJC is now 7-6 overall and 2-2 in the division.
Thornton had 21 points for the Wildcats, 11-1 and 3-1. Cedric Brim, Jr. added 19 and Parker had 13.
The Wildcats were 29-of-56 from the field (5-of-15 from 3-point range) for 44 percent. They were 11-of-17 from the foul line. 

Jones goes to Mississippi Gulf Coast for a 7:30 p.m. contest on Monday. The game will air on www.mgcccbulldogs.com.
Pearl River travels to East Central on Monday.
 
Saturday's game
Ellisville
A.B. Howard Gymnasium
MEN
Pearl River 74, Jones County 73
Pearl River (11-1, 3-1)             41 33 – 74
Jones County (7-6, 2-2)          37 36 – 73
PEARL RIVER (74) – Eric Thornton 21, Cedric Brim Jr. 19, Kirk Parker 13, Jonas James III 7, Brandon Cranford 5, Cameron Douglas 5, Jerrod Rigby 2, Ray Anderson 2.
JONES COUNTY (73) – Malik Henry 19, David McCoy 13, Winceton Edwards 13, Mason Daniels 11, David Gaines, Jr. 10, Shemar Johnson 7, Michael Williams 0, Terry Williams 0, Omar Steele 0.