In a tense and closely contested matchup, the Terry Bulldogs clinched a hard-fought 49-47 victory over the Picayune Maroon Tide in the state Class 6A basketball quarterfinals on Friday.
Terry advances to the state semifinals in Jackson and Picayune concludes its season with a 23-8 record.
The Tide finished second in the 6A Region 4 standings with an 8-2 mark.
Terry set the tone early in the quarterfinal game at Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College in Perkinston, jumping out to a 14-8 lead in the first quarter.
However, the Tide mounted a comeback in the second quarter, outscoring the Bulldogs 15-6 for a 23-20 halftime lead.
The third quarter ended in a deadlock, with the score tied at 36.
With just 29.3 seconds remaining in the game, Terry held a two-point lead, but Picayune managed to force a turnover and call a timeout with 9.3 seconds left. However, the Tide missed a last-second 3-point shot and Terry secured the defensive rebound to seal the victory.
Kamarion Meriwether led the Bulldogs with 16 points and Avery Thomas added 13 points.
Jaden Harper also made his presence felt, chipping in 12 points, including seven crucial points in the fourth quarter to help propel Terry.
Sanchez Goss stood out for Picayune, delivering a stellar performance with a game-high 17 points, including five 3-pointers.