The Mount Pleasant Tigers took down the Pine Tree Pirates 65-36 at home Friday night in front of an electric atmosphere. With the Mount Pleasant student section and Goin’ Gold Pep Band in full force, Willie Williams Gym was turned into a deafening playoff environment and the Tigers on the court didn’t disappoint. The victory for Mount Pleasant moved the Tigers into the 30-win plateau for the second time in the last four years and only the third time in school history. The Tigers magic number is now down to one which will secure their third district championship in the last four years.

As with every team Mount Pleasant has faced this season, the Pirates came out strong and physical in the first quarter limiting the Tigers to a mere 10 points. The Tiger defense would prove formidable as well forcing Pine Tree into 9 turnovers, as many points as they would score in the quarter. Pine Tree would stake an early 4-0 lead on a transition layup and offensive putback giving the visiting some early momentum. After missing some early open looks, Mount Pleasant would get on the board at the 5:51 mark on a Payton Chism drive and foul to make the score 4-3. The Tigers would score again on a mid-paint jumper by Kelcey Morris but the Pirates responded with another 5-point spurt to retake the lead at 9-5. A 5-0 run by the Tigers in the waning seconds would set the score at 10-9 Mount Pleasant after one.

The second quarter would spell doom for the Pirates as the Tigers ramped up the defense turning over Pine Tree 10 more times. The back-and-forth affair continued to start the frame with both teams trading baskets to set the score at 15-13 but a 14-2 run by Mount Pleasant would put them up for good and Pine Tree would never recover. Mount Pleasant would go on to lead 32-19 at the break and win both quarters in the second half to run away with the victory. The story of the game was Pine Tree’s 34 turnovers which led to 34 points for the Tigers.

Sophomore sensation Reggie Webster posted a career- and game-high 20 points (6-12 FG, 2-6 3Pt, 6-10 FT) to lead the way for the Tigers also notching 5 rebounds, 2 steals, and taking 2 charges. Webster has been heating up at just the right time for the Tigers scoring in double figures in the last three games. Kelcey Morris poured in 14 points (5-12 FG, 4-6 FT) adding 4 assists and 4 steals and Payton Chism also had double figures with 12 points (3-9 FG, 6-8 FT) to go with 1 rebound, 5 assists, and 4 steals. Xavier Hills added 6 points including a monstrous two-hand slam in the fourth quarter accompanied by 2 rebounds, 2 assists, and 2 steals. Luke Hampton added 5 points with 2 boards and Kyler Smith brought the energy with 5 points, 4 rebounds, 2 assists, and a steal. De’Keivous Heath chipped in 2 points and Carter Chism knocked in 1 point.

The Tigers (30-0, 11-0) will look to clinch their fourth district championship under head coach Joey Chism on Tuesday as they travel to Longview (23-5, 7-4) to take on the Lobos. Mount Pleasant won the last meeting between the two 52-40 and the Lobos are coming off a 56-53 loss to Texas High last Friday putting them in third place in the district. Playoff shirts are currently on sale for the Tigers and can be purchased online at https://gogearup.io/mphs-bbb-po23 until midnight Feb 12.