CLINTON, Ms. – LSU Eunice gave No. 16 Pearl River all it could handle but a second half surge dealt the Bengals a 53-42 setback in the Region 23 Semifinals on Friday.  The Bengals close their fourth season in program history with a 19-7 record and three-time reigning LCCAC Champions.
 
The Wildcats pushed out to an early double-digit lead, taking an 18-8 advantage midway through the first half.  LSUE would claw back, using a pair of three-pointers from Magok Manyang (Adelaide, Australia, Trinity College HS) on its way to tying the game at 25-25 heading into the locker rooms.
 
The Bengals would pick up where they left off after half, taking their only lead of the game, 29-28, after Manyang made a free throw with 16:58 to play. PRCC would building another double-digit lead before LSUE made its last push.  Moses Nuangki's (Adelaide, Australia, Carlisle School (VA)) jumper with 5:18 left would cut the LSUE deficit to 44-40.
 
LSUE would make just one more field goal the rest of the game.  Pearl River would close the game on a 9-2 run.
 
Alonzo Linton (Lynn, MA, Lynn English HS) was the lone double-digit scorer for LSUE with 10 points.  The Wildcats would frustrate leading scorer Isaiah Payne (Ville Platte, LA, Pine Prairie HS), scoring all six of his points in the first half.
 
Pearl River and Meridian will meet for the Region 23 Championship on Saturday.