MARION – The decision to transfer to Marion Military Institute was too simple for Brian Moore.

After all, the 6-foot, 4-inch senior forward is one of the Tigers’ top offensive weapons as the AISA Class 1A runners-up from one year ago look to reload.

The transfer from Francis Marion High School scored 17 points Tuesday night and swatted away several opposing shots as the Tigers got by Pickens Academy, 54-50.

“I’m fitting in good,” Moore said. “I’m real happy about my decision (to transfer). There’s a lot of chemistry on this team.”

Moore showed his presence early and often, carving through the Pickens defense like a brand new Ginsu knife through a Thanksgiving turkey. His running 12-foot jumper over two defenders gave the Tigers (3-0) a 33-27 lead with 1:54 remaining in the third period.

Moore followed up that shot with a drive along the baseline for a slam-dunk that made it 35-30.

“He’s a big presence inside,” MMI coach Michelle Ivey said. “He’s tough.”

When Moore wasn’t

taking the ball to the hoop, he was opening opportunities for the MMI guards. Kendrick Moore buried a three-pointer from the top of the key to open the fourth period, extending the Tigers’ advantage to 38-30.

Brian Moore added his second dunk of the half and third of the game – this one a charge along the baseline from the left corner – to extend MMI’s lead to 43-31 with just under six minutes to go.

Pickens used its full-court press to force MMI turnovers and its three-point shooting to get back into the game.

Following a traveling violation on MMI, guard Brian Nance hit a three-pointer from the top of the key to narrow the margin to 43-36.

Guard Blake Foster hit a three-pointer of his own to cut the MMI lead to 50-46 with 2:34 remaining.

But a pair of free-throws by Jovaris Smith and an offensive rebound and putback by forward Wendell Crews stretched the Tigers’ lead back out to 54-46 with just under a minute to go.

Brian Moore finished with 17 points. He was followed by Kendrick Moore with 15, Smith with 11 and guard Clarence Allgood Jr. with nine points.

Despite the Tigers’ balanced scoring and solid work by the guards, Ivey said her team could have played better.

“Brian really opened it up for the guards,” she said. “We’ve got to look to him more. Any time you have a dominant player like that inside, you have to consider him every time you touch the ball.”

MMI trailed 10-7 early in the first quarter, but quickly recovered on Kendrick Moore’s three-pointer in front of the Pickens bench to tie the game. His driving layup at the buzzer to end the first quarter gave the Tigers a 14-10 lead.

Smith opened the second period with a three-pointer from the top of the key to make it 17-10.

Pickens responded with a 7-2 run to cut the deficit to 19-17. But Brian Moore squelched the run with a 10-foot jumper over Foster that made it 21-17. The Tigers led 26-17 at halftime.

MMI-48, Pickens 48

MARION – The Thanksgiving holiday weekend might be great for spending time with friends and family, but it doesn’t do a whole lot for a winning streak.

The Marion Military Institute Lady Tigers learned that painful lesson Tuesday night in a 54-48 loss to Pickens Academy.

Playing their first game since a Nov. 18 win over Jefferson Christian, the Lady Tigers (2-1) turned the ball over six times in the fourth quarter and were rendered helpless by the Lady Pirates’ full-court press defense/

“We just stunk,” MMI coach Michelle Ivey said. “I don’t know a better way to say it. Jefferson Christian pressured us and we handled the pressure.

“I don’t what the difference was between tonight and Jefferson Christian,” Ivey added. “But the girls are going to have it rough (Wednesday).”

The Lady Tigers didn’t exactly have an easy time of it Tuesday night, either. Playing without starting point guard Samantha Suttle, MMI saw a 9-4 first-quarter lead quickly slip away and were never able to recover. Suttle suffered a torn ACL in her left knee during preseason practice. She is expected to be out until January.

The Lady Pirates utilized their inside game to dominate the boards, then went to the perimeter to execute their three-point shooting. Leading 33-31, Pickens began pulling away in the third period. Brittany Pate nailed a three-pointer from the top of the key – her fourth three-pointer of the game – to give the Lady Pirates a 36-31 lead.

Pate’s basket ignited a 10-2 run that gave Pickens Academy a 43-33 midway through the third period.

The Lady Tigers rallied and got to within six on a three-point play by junior guard Yolanda Kelly, who hit a running layup and was fouled. Kelly made the charity shot to make it 46-40 with 4:16 to go.

MMI again had a chance to cut into the lead following a steal by Kelly. But the Lady Tigers threw the ball away, giving possession back to Pickens.

Two free-throws by the Lady Pirates stretched the lead back to eight. The Lady Tigers would not challenge again.

Kelly had 17 points to lead MMI. Felecia Sprott recorded a triple-double with 15 points, 17 rebounds and 10 rebounds.