No. 17 MGCCC outlasts Holmes 61-56 in OT

Justin Childs scored five big points in overtime to help the Bulldogs get past Holmes 61-56 Feb. 29 @ the MACJC Tournament.

Bulldogs headed back to MACJC title game

FULTON, MS---Justin Childs hit two free throws in overtime then nailed a three-pointer with 10 seconds left to lead No. 17 Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College to a 61-56 win over Holmes and send the Bulldogs back to the MACJC title game.

Gulf Coast (21-4) will take on archrival Pearl River Thursday Night at 8 p.m. for the Championship. In 2011 The Bulldogs beat the Wildcats 64-61 for the college’s first State title since 1992.

“Our kids have shown tremendous heart in these two games,” said Gulf Coast head coach Wendell Weathers. “We’ve been down in both of them, but they’ve answered the challenge and now we’ve got a shot at another state title.”

Gulf Coast was down 37-31 at halftime and trailed by as many as 12 to Holmes (17-8) before the MACJC’S South Division champs employed a full court press. The Bulldogs then held Holmes scoreless for nearly eight minutes and cut the lead down to 51-47 with 6:00 remaining in the second half. Both teams then went three minutes without scoring until Gulf Coast got three baskets and Holmes hit a three-pointer to make it 54-53 with 1:00 to go. Gulf Coast sophomore Guy Payne hot one of two free throws with three seconds left to send the game into overtime.

Back on Nov. 22, Gulf Coast slipped by Holmes 57-55 at the MGCCC Classic in Perkinston.

"Our team's depth and defensive pressure have been huge factors in these two wins," Weathers added.

Angel Matias led Gulf Coast with 17 points and 17 rebounds, Guy Payne had 13, and Jeffery Simmons added 10.

If the Bulldogs can get by Pearl River Thursday Night, Gulf Coast will have won back-to-back MACJC titles for the first time since 1991-92. The two split the regular season series 1-1, with the Bulldogs winning 75-64 in Poplarville on Jan. 26 and the Wildcats taking an 81-80 overtime victory Feb. 20 in Perkinston.