Prep hoops: Arch-rivals Biloxi, Gulfport split pair of games

The top-ranked Biloxi boys and the suddenly surging Gulfport girls both picked up big Region 8-6A wins Friday night at Bert Jenkins Gym on the Gulfport High School campus.
The Lady Admirals nipped the Lady Indians 34-32, while the Indians clipped the Admirals 52-41. Both winning squads now sit atop their respective region races, as the GHS girls are 2-0 and the BHS boys moved to 3-0.

The win for the Lady Admirals over their arch-rival capped off an outstanding week on the hardwood, with the latest win coming on the heels of a huge victory over previously unbeaten Hancock 49-37 on Tuesday. Gulfport was led by Maddie Odell who tallied 15 points in the win Friday night. The loss was just the third of the season for the Lady Indians, who fall to 17-3 overall while Gulfport is 16-5 overall.

The Indians earned a split for Biloxi High on the evening with their 11-point victory which was powered by their Dandy Dozen dynamic duo of guard James Turner and forward Duran Parish. Turner tallied a game-high 21 points in the win, while Parish chipped in 15 points to the winning effort. Gulfport’s Matt Krass led the Admirals with 13 points.

Biloxi is now an impressive 15-1 on the season, and the Indians were coming off a big win over then top-ranked Starkville last weekend in Pontotoc in the “Tangle on the Trail” tourney. Biloxi popped the Yellow Jackets 60-58 as Parish converted a pair of free throws late to seal the win. Parish tallied a game-high 20 points in that game and earned MVP honors in the big contest, while Turner added 12 points for Biloxi.

The Admirals fell to 18-4 overall with the loss and stand 1-1 in league play. Like the GHS girls, head coach Owen Miller’s GHS boys crew was coming off a nice win over Hancock earlier in the week over to open region play picking up a 55-39 as Matt Krass finished with 14 points, Kylan Howze added 10 and both Jylan Howze and Kamari Mitchell had eight points apiece in the win.
Biloxi and Gulfport are set to square off again in the Biloxi Sports Arena on Tuesday, Jan 24th. The Biloxi girls faced Daphne Saturday night in the first-ever Mississippi/Alabama Challenge on their home court. while the Indians will meet Raymond Monday afternoon in the “MLK Rumble in the South”  hosted by Mississippi College at A.E. Wood Coliseum in Clinton. Next up for both BHS squads is a region rematch Tuesday at home against Hancock.
Meanwhile, both Gulfport squads are off until Friday when they each travel to Harrison Central in league play. The Lady Admirals had an MLK Classic of their own scheduled for Monday at The Bert but it was canceled.