The renewal of a pair of longtime local rivalries on the basketball court was featured this week in prep basketball circles in the “Southern Six”.
On Tuesday, both George County’s boys and girls headed south down to Ocean Springs for a pair of games on the hardwood. Friday night, Moss Point travels across Jefferson Street to face arch-rival Pascagoula in a pair of varsity games.
December 6, 2022: George County Rebels guard Marlin Odom (4) gets tripped up and loses control of the ball during the varsity boys basketball game versus George County at Ocean Springs, Mississippi. Photo: Bobby McDuffie/228 SportsDecember 6, 2022: Ocean Springs Greyhounds Maddox Noblitt (3) recovers a loose ball during the varsity boys basketball game versus George County at Ocean Springs, Mississippi. Photo: Bobby McDuffie/228 SportsDecember 6, 2022: George County Rebels head coach Alonzo Lawrence during the varsity boys basketball game at Ocean Springs, Mississippi. Photo: Bobby McDuffie/228 SportsDecember 6, 2022: Ocean Springs Greyhounds guard Elijah Isom (1) battles to get around George County Rebels guard Hunter Barber (11) during the varsity boys basketball game at Ocean Springs, Mississippi. Photo: Bobby McDuffie/228 SportsDecember 6, 2022: Ocean Springs Greyhounds guard Elijah Isom (1) is covered by George County Devin Williams (10) during the varsity boys basketball game at Ocean Springs, Mississippi. Photo: Bobby McDuffie/228 SportsDecember 6, 2022: Ocean Springs Greyhounds Micah Jones (24) looks for an open lane to pass during the varsity boys basketball game at Ocean Springs, Mississippi. Photo: Bobby McDuffie/228 SportsDecember 6, 2022: Ocean Springs Greyhounds guard Elijah Isom (1) goes up for two but is denied by George County Rebels guard Marlin Odom (4) during the varsity boys basketball game at Ocean Springs, Mississippi. Photo: Bobby McDuffie/228 SportsDecember 6, 2022: George County Rebels guard Deuce Knight (2) with the ball, guarded by Ocean Springs forward Collier Carlisle (2) during the varsity boys basketball game at Ocean Springs, Mississippi. Photo: Bobby McDuffie/228 SportsDecember 6, 2022: George County Rebels Tyric Jack (3) has his layup shot blocked by Ocean Springs forward Collier Carlisle (2) during the varsity boys basketball game at Ocean Springs, Mississippi. Photo: Bobby McDuffie/228 SportsDecember 6, 2022: George County Rebels guard Marlin Odom (4) handles the ball during the varsity boys basketball game at Ocean Springs, Mississippi. Photo: Bobby McDuffie/228 Sports
Homestanding Ocean Springs swept George County earlier this week. The Greyhounds beat the Rebels 77-48, as sophomore Maddox Noblitt poured in a game-high 22 points to lead OSHS. Noblitt tallied four 3-pointers in the first fame alone and finished with five treys in the game. Elijah Isom chipped in 17 points to the winning effort, while Korbin Bundy added nine points. Marlin Odom paced GCHS with 14 points and Deuce Knight added 11.
The Lady Greyhounds opened the proceedings with a commanding 58-12 win to move to an impressive 8-2 on the year. Star Jackson tallied a game-high 14 points for OSHS in the win, while Katie Stovall had 11, Kaleah Lowery nine, and Carlisha Briscoe eight points. Taleah Daniels had half of the Lady Rebels’ total points in the game.
December 6, 2022: George County Rebels guard Marlin Odom (4) during the varsity boys basketball game at Ocean Springs, Mississippi. Photo: Bobby McDuffie/228 SportsDecember 6, 2022: George County Rebels guard Deuce Knight (2) during the varsity boys basketball game at Ocean Springs, Mississippi. Photo: Bobby McDuffie/228 SportsDecember 6, 2022: George County Rebels guard Deuce Knight (2) goes around Ocean Springs Greyhounds Maddox Noblitt (3) during the varsity boys basketball game at Ocean Springs, Mississippi. Photo: Bobby McDuffie/228 SportsDecember 6, 2022: Ocean Springs Greyhounds Micah Jones (24) fends off George County Devin Williams during the varsity boys basketball game at Ocean Springs, Mississippi. Photo: Bobby McDuffie/228 SportsDecember 6, 2022: Ocean Springs Greyhounds Maddox Noblitt (3) is covered by George County Devin Williams (10) during the varsity boys basketball game at Ocean Springs, Mississippi. Photo: Bobby McDuffie/228 SportsDecember 6, 2022: Ocean Springs Greyhounds Maddox Noblitt (3) is covered by George County Devin Williams (10) during the varsity boys basketball game at Ocean Springs, Mississippi. Photo: Bobby McDuffie/228 SportsDecember 6, 2022: George County Rebels head coach Alonzo Lawrence during the varsity boys basketball game at Ocean Springs, Mississippi. Photo: Bobby McDuffie/228 SportsDecember 6, 2022: Ocean Springs Greyhounds Lucas Lammers (10) has the ball stripped away by George County Rebels forward Tyler Henry (24) during the varsity boys basketball game at Ocean Springs, Mississippi. Photo: Bobby McDuffie/228 SportsDecember 6, 2022: Ocean Springs Greyhounds guard Elijah Isom (1) makes a layup shot during the varsity boys basketball game versus George County at Ocean Springs, Mississippi. Photo: Bobby McDuffie/228 SportsDecember 6, 2022: Ocean Springs forward Collier Carlisle attempts a shot during the varsity boys basketball game versus George County at Ocean Springs, Mississippi. Photo: Bobby McDuffie/228 SportsDecember 6, 2022: Ocean Springs Greyhounds head coach Matt Noblitt during the varsity boys basketball game at Ocean Springs, Mississippi. Photo: Bobby McDuffie/228 Sports
Speaking of rivalries, George County travels to Greene County for a pair of games Friday night.
Both Pascagoula squads are coming off of games against Harrison Central Tuesday night, as the Panthers beat the Red Rebels 69-52 and the HCHS girls slipped past the Lady Panthers 51-35.
Moss Point was also in action Tuesday as the Tigers fell to Williamson 46-41 (Mobile, Ala.) and the Lady Tigers dropped a 33-14 decision to the Lady Lions.
Renee Ladner Invitational
A full day of prep basketball action is set for Saturday in D’Iberville as the first “Renee Ladner Invitational” takes place and will include quite a few area teams.
The action tips off at 9 a.m, as the Pass Christian boys take on St. Patrick followed by the South Pike boys vs. Gautier at 10:30. The St. Patrick girls play Forrest County AHS at Noon and then the FCAHS boys and Hattiesburg face off at 1:30. The Gautier girls meet Madison-Ridgeland Academy. at 3, followed by the MPA boys and Harrison Central at 4:30. The host DHS girls play the HCHS girls at 6, followed by the D’Iberville boys and Gulfport at 7:30. The full day of play wraps up with the Ocean Springs boys facing the Biloxi Indians at 9 p.m.
Archie steps down
After one of his most successful seasons guiding the Gulfport High football team, Admirals head coach John Archie is stepping down.
Archie, who also serves in administration at GHS, announced his decision earlier this week. A search for his replacement began immediately.
The Admirals posted a stellar 9-2 regular season mark on the gridiron this season, losing only to eventual Class 5A state champion Picayune and Region 4-6A champ Ocean Springs in the process, both of which finished regular season play undefeated. Picayune, in fact, went on to defend its state championship and finish 15-0; OSHS ended the year at 12-1.
Gulfport finished second in Region 4-6A but lost an opening round home Class 6A South State playoff game to visiting Warren Central.
Archie served five seasons at the helm of the Admirals, posting a 37-22 overall record and guiding Gulfport to a pair of Region 4-6A championships and four state playoff appearances. The Admirals went just 1-4 in those postseason outings, however.
Curtis Rockwell has almost three decades of experience at four different daily newspapers across South Mississippi, specializing in Sports and live music.
