Meridian trounces the Caruthersville Tigers - again

The Caruthersville Tigers fell to the Meridian Bobcats 67-37 in the showcase game of the Fourth Annual Country Insurance and Financial Services Martin Luther King Classic at Meridian High School.

It was the second meeting in two weeks for the two teams as Meridian traveled to the bootheel of Missouri and trounced the Tigers 81-40 the weekend before.

The Tigers started the game strong as Vohland Fonda answered a Marland Johnson put-back with a three pointer to give Caruthersville a 3-2 early lead.

Johnson answered with a thunderous slam dunk. Fonda scored again and the Tigers re-took the lead at 5-4 just ninety seconds into the game.

Malcolm Larry made a strong basket inside, with Tigers seemingly hanging all over him, and Meridian took the lead for good with six minutes remaining in the first quarter.

Larry's basket started a run of twenty consecutive points by the Bobcats, helping them to a 26-8 lead after one quarter.

Caruthersville pulled the ball out in the second quarter, limiting the Bobcats offensive opportunities, and matched Meridian's six points in the frame. Meridian held a 32-14 lead at the half and 46-28 after three quarters.

Marland Johnson led Meridian with 19 points while Jeserick Pilgrim added 18 points. Johnson was named game MVP. Fonda led Caruthersville with 16 points and Caleb Moss added 11.

Meridian Ð Marland Johnson 9 1-1 19, Jeserick Pilgrim 5 (3) 2-4 18, Malcolm Larry 4 0-0 8, Richard Brownlee 2 3-4 7, Isiah Jones 1 (1) 0-0 5, Ralph Smith 1 1-2 3, Akeem Mercer 0 2-2 2, Matthew Jackson 0 2-3 2. TOTALS: 22 (4) 9-14 67.

Caruthersville Ð Fonda 5 (2) 0-0 16, Moss 0 (3) 2-2 11, Littrell 2 0-2 4, Sanders 2 0-0 4, Haywood 1 0-0 2. TOTALS: 10 (5) 2-4 37.
Fouled out Ð None. Technicals Ð Hite.