The Biloxi Indians wrapped up the top seed in Region 8-6A Thursday night with a resounding 76-47 win over home-standing Harrison Central.
The win leaves veteran head coach Seber Windham’s squad at a perfect 6-0 in league play and Biloxi moves to 19-2 overall and the Indians were set to host Pascagoula in the final game of the day at Hoopsfest 2023 at home in the Biloxi Sports Arena Saturday night.
Biloxi placed a trio of scorers in double digits in the win over the Red Rebels, as both Reggie Connor and James Turner tallied a game-high 21 points while Duran Parish chipped in with 16 points to the winning effort.
Jonavin Khan led the Red Rebels with 12 points and four steals, while Caden Ragins dished out four assists. Head coach Boo Hardy’s team is now 14-11 overall and 2-3 in league play, and will face off with arch-rival Gulfport for the third time this season Tuesday night at home in the final region game of the regular season for both teams.
The Admirals and Red Rebels have split a pair of games so far this season, with Harrison Central taking a close one-point 45-44 win in late December in the annual Admirals Hardwood Club Holiday Classic and then Gulfport rebounded and beat HCHS 64-36 three weeks later in region play.
Speaking of Gulfport, the Admirals moved to 20-5 overall and 3-2 in league play with a 62-45 win over Hancock Friday night. Amir Abdul-Rauf scored a game-high 20 points to guide Gulfport to the win, while Kylan Howze added 16 points and Kamari Mitchell dished out eight assists for Gulfport.
In girls’ Region 8-6A action Thursday night, the Biloxi Lady Indians nipped Harrison Central on the road 36-35 to move to 19-6 overall on the year and an even 3-3 in the tough terrain of the region race. Biloxi will be the third seed in the upcoming region tourney and HCHS the fourth.
Senior standout Shaneal Corpuz paced Biloxi with 18 points, nine rebounds and five blocks in the win while Amari Meredith chipped in 10 points and Zaniya Johnson added eight points and eight rebounds to the winning cause.
The Lady Indians were set to face off with the Pascagoula Lady Panthers Saturday night in the fifth game of the 2023 Hoopsfest in Biloxi.
The HCHS girls dropped to 14-11 overall and are 0-5 in the region race.
Both HCHS squads were coming off a split in region play with Hancock on Tuesday. The Red Rebels won 52-47, getting 16 points and eight rebounds from Caden Ragins plus 10 points from Aujaylen Barron as well as eight points from Shaun Murray in the victorious effort as well as 11 rebounds from Mickey Ducksworth.
Hancock won a close girls’ game 38-36, and then beat Gulfport 45-43 Friday night.
Harrison Central will host the Region 8-6A Tournament in Lyman beginning Monday, Feb. 7th.
