Both Pascagoula and Gulfport suffered extremely close losses in the semifinal round of the 39th annual Adrimal Hardwood Club Holiday Classic Thursday night.
Sean Holmes’ 10-foot jump shot banked in off the backboard with two seconds to play as Harrison Central nipped the host Admirals 45-44. Then, Metamora, Il., knocked off the Panthers 62-60 setting up Friday night’s championship game between HCHS and MHS at 7:30. Gulfport takes on Pascagoula for the second time this year in the third-place game at 6.
Aujaylen Barron tallied 12 points to pace the Red Rebels in their win, while both Caden Ragins and Shawn Murray chipped in 10 points apiece to the winning cause. Kamari Mitchell scored 13 points to lead Gulfport.
Pascagoula got 22 points from Pete Millender, 16 points from Dorian McMillan and 14 points from Kelan Rich in its loss. Metamora won this same tourney in 2015.
In other action in Gulfport Thursday, Moss Point beat Picayune 50-44. and Meridian hammered Madison Central 77-47, putting MPHS vs. Meridian at 4:30 Friday in the fifth place game and the Maroon Tide vs. MCHS in the seventh place game at 3.
Yazoo City beat the D’Iberville boys 45-20 in play Thursday at the annual Hattiesburg Coca-Cola Holiday Classic. But on Friday morning, the Warriors bounced back to pick up their first win in three outings in the tourney knocking off Jefferson Davis County 46-38.
On the second day of the Bay High Christmas Shootout Thursday, in boys’ action host Bay High won its second straight game in the event beating Gautier 36-22. Ronald Turner paced the Tigers with 17 points while Jaden Clark chipped in 15 points. Quincy Roberts and Kayden Colvin tallied eight points apiece for the Gators.
In other action on the boys’ side of the bracket, Parklane Academy beat Ocean Springs 71-58 thanks to a game-high 30 points by Raiders big man Brewer Carruth. Maddox Noblitt led the Greyhounds with 15 points, while Micah Jones added 14 points and Elijah Isom chipped in 13 points for OSHS.
Also, Pass Christian beat Long Beach 82-63 in the final boys’ game of the event. Dillion Woods poured in a game-high 29 points, all of which came in the first half, including seven 3-pointers, to pace the Pirates, while Brandan Necaise picked up 20 points and Larry Burks 13 in the winning effort. Andre Windham scored 13 points to lead LBHS, and Christian Spencer added 12 points and Wayne Ulrich 11 points for the Bearcats.
The Bay High girls also finished the two-day affair with a 2-0 mark, as the Lady Tigers beat Parklane Academy 48-31. Kiara Burney tallied 16 points to pace the Bay, while Nakira Coleman added 10 points and Emmalee Kirkpatrick eight points to the winning cause.
Also, Pass Christian slipped past the Gautier Lady Gators 47-40, as Dadrea Cuevas tallied a game-high 18 points for the Lady Pirates and Kamaiyah Pruitt chipped in 12 points for the Pass while Kammie Walker led Gautier with 14 points and Brandi Martin added 10 points.
Raymond beat long Beach 54-28 in girls’ action, and Kenyah Lacour scored eight points for LBHS.
