Both the Moss Point girls and the Greene County boys avoided season-ending losses on Monday night at the Tigerdme in Bay St, Louis as the Region 8-4A Tournament got underway.
With all four teams on the brink of elimination, the Lady Tigers beat Stone 30-18 and the Wildcats beat The Stone Tomcats in exciting fashion 50-48.
The Moss Point girls’ basketball team on Monday advanced to the second round of the district tournament with a 30-18 victory over the Stone County Tomcats.
The game was a defensive struggle throughout. Moss Point held Stone to only six points in the first half and led 18-6 at halftime.
Stone closed the gap to five midway through the fourth quarter, however, four consecutive free throws by Moss Point’s Ziare Cato put the game out of reach.
Cato was the leading scorer in the game with 13 points. She added six rebounds. Kristen Bailey and Kaliyah Richardson both added five points.
Stone County was led by Ciera Lanier who tallied eight points on the evening.
The loss marked the end of the season for the Stone girls, as they were eliminated from possible postseason action. Moss Point meanwhile, moves on to face the number one-seed Pass Christian lady pirates in Tuesday night. The Lady Tigers of head coach Ethan porter need just a win either Tuesday night or in the case of a loss to PCHS Tuesday night a win in the consolation game Thursday night to qualify for the upcoming Class 4A state playoffs.
In the boys’ game Monday night, Andrew Bradford’s last-second, 35-footer fell just short as the Greene County wildcats basketball team defeated Stone County 51-48 in Bay St. Louis.
The Wildcats got off to a hot start with K.J. Miller sinking three 3-pointers in the first half as Greene County built a 26-18 lead at the half.
Stone County, however, began a comeback to start the third with Riley Walton connecting on a pair of threes to cut the lead to 45-40 after three quarters.
Stone County continued to chip away at the lead, and cut it to two with just 20 seconds to play.
After a missed free throw, Bolton got the ball with seven seconds to play, but his desperation three hit the front of the rim, giving Greene County the win.
MIller led all scorers in the contest with 18. He added five assists. Brandon Spivery netted eight on the evening.
Walton led the Tomcats with 16 points, five rebounds and three blocks.
Just as their female counterparts, the Tomcats saw their season come to an end with the loss. Greene County, on the other hand, just like the Moss Point girls advanced to play top-seed Pass Christian Tuesday night in day two action. The winner advances to the championship game on Friday night while the loser will play in the consolation contest Thursday night.
The two meetings Monday night on the opening night of the Region 8-4A Tournament were basically play-in games in order to continue in the league tourney for a. chance to qualify for the state playoffs.
