MOSS POINT -- Terrance Trussell and Devin Booker combined for 53 points as Moss Point stayed perfect in Division 8-4A competition with a 68-54 victory over St. Stanislaus on Friday night.
Booker scored 32 points to reach the 30-point mark for the 11th consecutive game, and he credited his consistent play to his dad, Melvin Booker, who is also handling much of the coaching duties for the Tigers.
"It was a talk with my dad," Devin Booker said. "Toward the beginning of the season, he told me I need to stay focused. Even though I committed to Kentucky, I have to finish out my senior year strong. I had a long talk with him, and ever since then, my mind set changed."
Devin Booker now has 2,143 career points as he draws closer to the school record of 2,251 points by David Booker (no relation).
Devin Booker scored 26 points in the second half after struggling badly from the field in the first half.
"That's probably the ugliest 32 points I've seen in my life," Melvin Booker said. "He did a great job and picked it up in the second half. I got on him pretty good about starting so late."
Moss Point improved to 8-11 and 5-0 in division competition to tighten its hold on first place.
Friday's game was the first since it was revealed that Deadrick Bogard would take over as the interim head coach at Moss Point. He replaces Micoe Cotton, who has had an unexplained absence for the last eight games.
Assistant Melvin Booker continues to handle much of the in-game coaching duties.
He said Friday that the team has handled the distractions well.
"We continue to work," Melvin Booker said. "There are games on the schedule and we've got to play them. We'll continue to play hard."
While Devin Booker was again the leading scorer Friday, it was Trussell who kept Moss Point afloat early in the game.
Trussell, a junior guard, connected on five first-half 3-pointers to make up for Booker's cold shooting early in the game.
At halftime, Trussell had 17 points as Moss Point led 33-19. Devin Booker had just six points at the break.
"I think I've been in a slump this season," Trussell said. "It just feels good to hit shots, get confidence."
The St. Stanislaus zone defense did a good job of limiting Devin Booker in the first half, but Trussell's outside shot changed the game.
"In the first half, Trussell shot the ball extremely," SSC coach Ricky Stone said. "We knew he could make shots. He's a very good spot up shooter and we knew that going in. We just didn't do a very good job getting too him or running him off the spot. He knocked down shots in first half. That was pretty much the difference in the game."
Jerrod Rigby led SSC with 21 points on five 3-pointers.
Moss Point takes on St. Martin at 6 p.m. today in the Chevron Classic.
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