By Dwayne Bremer
Contributing writer
BAY ST. LOUIS — On Tuesday night, both the top-seeded Pass Christian boys and girls stamped their tickets to the Region 8-4A Tournament title tilt by sweeping a pair of games in the league tournament here at the Tigerdome.
One night later, on Wednesday, it was the host squad’s turn to do the same thing.
Both the Bay High boys and girls took turns winning semifinal games, as the Lady Tigers beat Greene County 27-22 and the BHS boys upset the Moss Point Tigers 40-24.
The pair of wins push the Bay High teams into the championship contests of their respective brackets, as each will take on Pass Christian as the girls meet at 6 p.m., and the boys’ battle to follow at 7:30 on Friday night.
The third-seeded Bay High Tigers used a 19-7 run in the second and third quarters to cruise past the second-seed Moss Point Tigers Wednesday night.
The home-standing Tiger defense held Moss Point Dandy Dozen standout Kendrick Osby, one of the top recruits in the state of Mississippi, to his lowest output of his senior season with only three points. Osby is averaging 24 points per game this year.
“When you play a guy like that it takes a team effort,” Bay High head Coach Kelton Thompson, who guides both the boys’ and girls’ programs, said. “I’m proud of our guards and the rest of the team for playing great defense all evening.”
Bay High led throughout the game, taking a 14-4 lead into halftime after unbelievably holding Moss Point scoreless in the second stanza.
Avain Wilson scored nine points in the first half, helping the Tigers to the double-digit advantage at intermission, and he finished with 14 points.
The third quarter was more of the same with the Tigers building a 24-9 lead. Jalen Clark netted eight points in the frame. He finished the game with a team-high 16 points.
Moss Point was led by Javoris Johnson, who scored eight points, all in the second half.
Bay High will take on Pass Christian Friday in the district title game. Moss Point will take on Greene County Thursday in the consolation game in a do-or-die situation with a Class 4A state playoff berth on the line.
“I’m really proud of the way we played tonight,” Thompson said. “We played fast and with a lot of intensity.”
Meanwhile, in the first game of the night, the Bay High Lady Tigers punched their ticket to the league finals with a 27-22 victory over the Greene County Lady Wildcats.
“We did not play as well as I hoped we would, but I’m proud of the way we finished,” Thompson said. “It was a little sloppy, but we took it one possession at a time and kept our poise.”
The Lady Tigers were led by center Nakena Coleman, who dominated the paint with 11 points, six rebounds, and five blocks.
The game was close throughout with Greene County leading 16-12 at halftime. Zamiah Knight hit a pair of 3-pointers in the final minute of the second quarter to help Greene County build its lead.
The Tigers came out strong defensively in the third and cut the deficit o 21-20 at the end of the third quarter.
The Tiger defense continued to play air-tight in the fourth quarter, allowing only one point in the frame.
Kiara Burney hit a crucial three-pointer with 1:30 to play to give the Lady Tigers a 25-22 lead. Taniyah Lewis then capped the game with two free throws, to round out the scoring at 27-22.
The Lady Tigers will take on Pass Christian Friday in the tournament finals.
Greene County will face Moss Point on Thursday in the consolation game also in a do-or-die situation with a state playoff berth on the line.
The season is over. for the loser of each consolation game.
