November 21, 2022: Gautier Gators guard Ivana Keys (22) during the Gautier versus Long Beach varsity girls basketball game at the Thanksgiving basketball tournament at Gautier high school, Gulfport, Mississippi. Photo: Bobby McDuffie/228 Sports
There were several large gatherings of prep hoops teams in the “Southern Six” on Saturday as both Harrison Central, St. Martin and Vancleave hosted one-day events featuring multiple games.
In Lyman at HCHS, the annual Mississippi/Louisiana Challenge took place featuring seven boys’ games and one girls’ contest.
The host HCHS boys knocked off Gautier 64-34. Red Rebel Trevon Deans scored 12 points and picked off 8 steals to be named Player of the Game. Caden Ragins and Aujaylen Barron each chipped in 10 points apiece to the winning cause. Quincy Roberts paced the Gators with nine points.
Pass Christian beat Sarah Reed (New Orleans) 51-43 as Brendan Necaise paced the Pirates with 15 points.
Moss Point knocked off Helen Cox (New Orleans) 55-43 as standout big man Kedrick Osby tallied a game high 21 points for the Tigers in the winning effort and was named the Player of the Game for his efforts.
Leflore (Mobile, Ala.) beat Hancock 56-53. Gulfport stopped East Jefferson (New Orleans) 57-38 as Nick Krass scored 17 for the Admirals.
In the only girls game of the night, Poncahtoula (La.) beat Harrison Central 54-47.
Madison-Ridgeland Academy beat Zachary (La.) 65-48. Harrison Alexander tallied a game high 26 points for MRA.
In St. Martin on Saturday, the Lady Yellow Jackets hosted the girls Hoopsfest that featured eight games.
Poplarville beat Drexel Prep 56-10 as Avory Travis scored 23 points for the Lady Hornets.
D’Iberville beat Theodore 56-39. Teeale Wells also scored 23 points to pace the winning team.
Archbishop Hannan (Hammond, La.) beat Long Beach 56-49 in an exciting contest. McKenna Sinon had 23 points for Hanan while Shania Hope led LBHS with 15 points.
Ocean Springs nipped Hahnville 59-53 in another close contest, as Starr Jackson scored, you got it, 23 points to pace the Lady Greyhounds.
Gulfport hammered Edna Karr (New Orleans) 47-19 and the leading scorer for the Lady Admirals was Madison O’Dell 16 points.
Foley beat Quitman 61-52.
The host St Martin squad beat East ‘Iberville 62-40, as Jay Robinson tallied a game-high 19 points to pace the Yellow Jackets while Mia Morro and LaDymein Lafayette each chipped in 12 points apiece for the Lady Yellow Jackets.
In the final game of the evening, Jackson Callaway beat Pascagoula 62-47. Pascagoula’s A’miyah Hedrick poured in a game-high 26 points for the Lady Panthers.
In Vancleave, Christian Collegiate won the boy’s championship in the four-team affair beating Bay High 31-21 Saturday. The Tigers did beat Petal 45-37 Friday night. The Petal girls won their side of the bracket by beating Bay High 28-26 Friday and then knocking off host Vancleave 41-17 Saturday.
In other action around the “Southern Six, the Gautier girls beat Pearl River Central 54-33 over the weekend. PRC won the boys game 54-33.
On Monday night, the St. Martin boys beat Greene County 49-28.