Harrison Central routs Bay High at HoospFest

BILOXI - Harrison Central weathered an early Bay High onslaught Saturday, then swamped the Tigers in the second half for a 58-35 victory in Game 3 of the annual HoopsFest at the Coast Coliseum.

Bay (15-6) bolted to a 15-4 first-quarter lead, then headed to the halftime lockerroom with a 22-21 lead courtesy of a buzzer-beating 3-pointer by Dairus Wyman.

After that, it was all Harrison Central (13-12).

The Red Rebels exploded for 21 third-quarter points in pulling away for the 23-point win one night after beating archrival Gulfport.

"I think after last night - it was an emotional win - we were on an emotional high and Bay jumped on us 10-0,'' Harrison Central coach Boo Hardy said. "Dajon (Whitworth) came out and made some big shots for us and helped us claw our way back into the game. We are one of the quicker teams on the Coast and we try to use our speed to our advantage and that's what we did.''

Whitworth, a sophomore, finished with 14 points, 11 in the first half. Senior Biscuit Floyd hit for 18 points, 16 of which came in the second half. Nehemiah Espey added 10 points in the low post.

Conner Ladner paced Bay High with 11 points.

Trailing 28-23, Harrison Central finished the third quarter with 19 straight points for a 42-28 lead. Then Anthony Barnett opened the fourth quarter with a 3-pointer - for a 45-28 lead - and a run of 22 consecutive points before Jaylan Wilson ended Bay High's scoring drought.

Harrison Central faces rival West Harrison in its next game Tuesday.

"We needed this game to keep the momentum going,'' Floyd said.

"It was a good win, a good energy boost,'' Whitworth said.

This story was originally published January 30, 2016 at 5:21 PM with the headline "Harrison Central routs Bay High at HoospFest ."