Bulldogs play for Region XXIII title tonight vs. Pearl River at 7 p.m.

GOODMAN --- The Holmes Community College Bulldogs will play for their second straight Region XXIII title tonight at 7 p.m. at Mississippi College versus the Pearl River Community College Wildcats.

Holmes, 17-9, defeated MACJC champion East Mississippi, 72-64, in the quarterfinals and Gulf Coast in the semifinals, 48-45 while Pearl River, 24-3, defeated Northeast, 78-43, in the quarterfinals and Jones in the semifinals, 63-61, in overtime. Today's game can be watched live at holmesathletics.com/cardinal-channel. The winner of the tonight's game will advance to the NJCAA National Tournament in Hutchinson, Kansas.

The two teams played in the MACJC State Tournament at Jones College last week, where Pearl River defeated Holmes, 60-48. Holmes defeated Pearl River, 77-64, in the Region XXIII finals last year to advance to the NJCAA National Tournament.

Holmes is led in scoring by sophomore guard/forward Kassim Nicholson, who is averaging 15 points per game. Sophomore guard Czar Perry is averaging 14.6 points per game and sophomore forward Winford Ross is averaging 10 points per game. As a team, the Bulldogs are averaging 72 points per game and are shooting 45 percent from the floor, 36.2 percent from three-point range and 69 percent from the free-throw line.

Holmes is giving up 63.30 points per game.

Pearl River is led by sophomore guard Brandon Rachal, who is averaging 15.0 points per game. Sophomore guard Cedric Brim, Jr. is averaging 14.8 points per game while sophomore guard Eric Thornton, Jr. is averaging 13.2 points per game. As a team, Pearl River is averaging 86 points per game and are shooting 49.9 percent from the floor, 34.1 percent from the three-point line and 66.7 percent from the free-throw line.

Pearl River is giving up 66.6 points per game.