The Biloxi boys enjoyed one of the most successful prep basketball seasons in the state of Mississippi this season.
But that campaign came to a crashing conclusion on the playing floor in Poplarville Saturday night.
Northwest Rankin put up an outstanding defensive effort and upset the Indians 57-44 in the Class 6A South State quarterfinals at Marvin White Coliseum on the campus of Pearl River Community College.
The loss was just the fourth of the season for the once top-ranked in the state Indians, as they finish at 24-4 overall.
The Cougars are now 24-8, and will face Horn Lake in the Class 6A semifinals on Wednesday night at the Mississippi Coliseum at 7 p.m.
The 44 points scored by the Indians were by far their lowest point total of the season. They managed just 12 points in the first half.
Biloxi struggled from the start, scoring just four points in the first quarter and then eight in the second to trail 26-12 at halftime. The Cougars were slightly threatened in the third frame, as the Indians used a trio of 3-pointers by James Turner to cut the deficit to 33-28 entering the fourth period.
But Northwest Rankin bounced back with 24 points in the final frame, including 10 by Brendan Brown, and held Biloxi at bay to seal the 13-point win.
Levorious Lindsay lead the Cougars with 16 points, while Brown chipped in 13 points to the winning effort.
Duran Parish tallied a game-high 23 points to pace Biloxi, while Turner added 15 points all coming on five treys in the second half. The Cougars held Turner, Biloxi’s leading scorer, to zero points in the first half.
Here is the complete state tournament schedule for all six classifications. All games will take place at the Mississippi Coliseum in Jackson, and the action starts Monday.
SEMIFINAL ROUND
MONDAY
CLASS 1A
Girls
9 a.m. — Biggersville (24-5) vs. Bay Springs (23-7)
10:30 a.m. — Ingomar (35-1) vs. Simmons (23-2)
Boys
Noon — Byers (24-2) vs. McEvans (22-6)
1:30 p.m. — West Union (26-5) vs. McAdams (23-2)
CLASS 4A
Girls
4 p.m. — Quitman (22-10) vs. Pontotoc (30-3)
5:30 p.m. — Raymond (25-5) vs. Louisville (28-3)
Boys
7 p.m. — South Pike (20-10) vs. Yazoo City (28-5)
8:30 p.m. — Raymond (26-6) vs. Pontotoc (30-2)
TUESDAY
CLASS 2A
Girls
9 a.m. — Belmont (26-5) vs. Lake (22-9)
10:30 a.m. — East Webster (23-10) vs. Heidelberg (25-6)
Boys
Noon — Coahoma County (28-2) vs. Newton (19-10)
1:30 p.m. — Northside (18-12) vs. Bogue Chitto (22-5)
CLASS 5A
Girls
4 p.m. — Laurel (19-8) vs. Callaway (26-6)
5:30 p.m. — West Jones (27-2) vs. Lafayette (23-6)
Boys
7 p.m. — Hattiesburg (22-7) vs. Canton (22-6)
8:30 p.m. — Picayune (19-15) vs. Provine (24-7)
WEDNESDAY
CLASS 3A
Girls
9 a.m. — Booneville (28-3) vs. Morton (25-3)
10:30 a.m. — Kossuth (18-10) vs. Forest (25-6)
Boys
Noon — Booneville (28-2) vs. Morton (22-5)
1:30 p.m. — Byhalia (18-11) vs. SE Lauderdale (22-4)
CLASS 6A
Girls
4 p.m. — Tupelo (25-3) vs. Biloxi (25-6)
5:30 p.m. — Germantown (27-2) vs. Harrison Central (20-13)
Boys
7 p.m. — Horn Lake (30-1) vs. Northwest Rankin (24-8)
8:30 p.m. — Olive Branch (25-5) vs. Brandon (24-7)
THURSDAY
CLASS 1A
Girls
1 p.m. — State Championship Game
Boys
3 p.m. — State Championship Game
CLASS 4A
Girls
5 p.m. — State Championship Game
Boys
7 p.m. — State Championship Game
FRIDAY
CLASS 2A
Girls
1 p.m. — State Championship Game
Boys
3 p.m. — State Championship Game
CLASS 5A
Girls
5 p.m. — State Championship Game
Boys
7 p.m. — State Championship Game
SATURDAY
CLASS 3A
Girls
1 p.m. — State Championship Game
Boys
3 p.m. — State Championship Game
CLASS 6A
Girls
5 p.m. — State Championship Game
Boys
7 p.m. — State Championship Game
