Tiger Sharks to honor former Coach Dickson on Saturday

The Port St. Joe High School boys’ basketball program will honor the coach that started the legacy of state titles that has defined the program.

Former Coach Bill Dickson, who was inducted into the school’s Athletic Hall of Fame during the 2011 football season, will be honored during a special ceremony prior to Saturday’s home game against district and intra-county rival Franklin County.

A hospitality room will open at 6 p.m. ET for all those who would like to meet and greet with Dickson and the on-court ceremony will be held following the Lady Tiger Sharks’ game, between 7-7:15 p.m. ET.

Dickson, who lives in Mississippi, was unable to attend the ceremonies during the football season. He will be on hand Saturday night.

“It will be a nice night,” said Port St. Joe coach Derek Kurnitsky. “He is very deserving of going into the Hall of Fame and we are happy we get to honor him in person.”

Dickson was a standout as a youngster playing for Wewahitchka High School.

He later played at Troy (AL) State, where he set the school scoring record, which still stands.

After early coaching stops following college, Dickson returned to Gulf County to coach at Port St. Joe High School.

He coached the Tiger Sharks from 1966-74, winning region and state titles in 1969 and 1972. Those are the first of the eight state titles the Port St. Joe boys have won, not to mention another seven trips as far as the state Final Four.

Dickson’s 1972 team was noteworthy for finishing with a losing regular-season record only to beat Havana Northside for the state title. Northside had beaten Port St. Joe twice during the regular season and again in the district title game.

Dickson was named state Coach of the Year in 1969 and 1972 and was named National Coach of the Year in 1971-72.

Former players under Dickson and the general public is urged to come out and honor Dickson on Saturday night.

Tiger Sharks drop two close games

The prior week was one of frustration for the young Tiger Sharks as they lost a game they led at home to Mosley and fell on the road to a West Gadsden team in what could be characterized as something of a moral victory.

On Jan. 3, the Tiger Sharks (5-9 overall, 3-2 in District 4-1A) hosted Mosley and carved out a lead through three quarters.

Leading 51-44 heading into the final period, though, the Tiger Sharks faltered, committing key turnovers and missing shots to pave the way for a 24-13 advantage of the Dolphins in the fourth-quarter and a 68-64 Port St. Joe loss.

“It was the same as with Cottondale the week before,” Kurnisky said. “We are up and we just could not close the deal. We need to learn to slow down and win games. We need to learn how to close games.

“We work it on it a lot in practice, but that is much different than in games. We just need to think and execute what we want to do.”

Slowing down is a key this year for a young team starting just one senior, who is joined in the starting lineup by an eighth-grader, a freshman, a sophomore and a junior.

“We are playing a lot better,” Kurnitsky said. “The record does not reflect it, but our defense is starting to get there and we are gaining confidence.”

The Tiger Sharks had balanced scoring against Mosley, with five players in double figures.

Natrone Lee and Ramello Zaccarro led the way with 15 points apiece. Jarkiece Davis and Alex King chipped in 12 points each and Chad Quinn scored 10.

Last Friday, the Tiger Sharks traveled to West Gadsden, which had an average margin of victory of nearly 40 points against District 4-1A foes.

Port St. Joe adopted a slow down offense from the outset and kept the game close before the Panthers pulled out a 54-38 win.

“It was 26-19 at the half and in the third quarter we got to within four,” Kurnitsky said. “We were right there at the end. We played really well, but (West Gadsden) was too much and we had a run in the third quarter where we made a few turnovers and didn’t take care of the ball.”

King led the way with 17 points for the Tiger Sharks. Lee added nine points, Quinn four, Zaccarro three, Davis and Jamie Gordon two each and Arion Ward scored one point.

“I really believe this team is going to win some games and take a little young,” Kurnitsky said. “I can see it. They are playing with more confidence and they haven’t hung their heads. This has been an interesting and fun year. This is good group that is only going to get better.”

The Tiger Sharks traveled to South Walton on Tuesday and play at Blountstown on Friday in this week of district contests. The Franklin County game will tip at 7:30 p.m. ET on Saturday at “The Dome.”