The West Harrison basketball teams stormed the Long Beach court with two big victories on Friday night in girls and boys games between rival schools separated by only a few miles.
The Lady Hurricanes (21-2 overall) dominated the Lady Bearcats 61-26 and the Hurricanes beat the Bearcats 67-50 on a combined seven 3-point baskets by the West Harrison guards.
West Harrison girls 61, Long Beach 26
The Lady Bearcats (4-17) were easily overmatched as West Harrison finished the first half with a 39-13 lead on a barrage of 3-point baskets and 23 combined points by Lady Hurricanes guards Sydnei Barber and Jazlee Deschamp.
The Lady Bearcats (4-17) were easily overmatched as West Harrison finished the first half with a 39-13 lead on a barrage of 3-point baskets and 23 combined points by Lady Hurricanes guards Sydnei Barber and Jazlee Deschamp.
Despite Long Beach playing a little better defensively in the second half, the Lady Bearcats scored just 13 points and made only three free-throw attempts.
Barber, Jalynn Applewhite and Michelle Jackson combined for 19 second-half points to help West Harrison walk away with another region win.
Barber had 19 points to lead the Lady Hurricanes, followed by Deschamp with 15 and Jackson with 11.
Long Beach’s Paityn Langley was the only Lady Bearcat who finished in double digits in points, scoring 13.
West Harrison 67 boys, Long Beach 50
In a much more contested matchup, Long Beach (5-18) took an early 15-14 lead behind explosive play from senior forward Andre Windham, who scored eight points in the first quarter.
In a much more contested matchup, Long Beach (5-18) took an early 15-14 lead behind explosive play from senior forward Andre Windham, who scored eight points in the first quarter.
A stout defense and four 3-point baskets by the Hurricanes made the halftime score 35-22 in favor of West Harrison.
Long Beach could not recover. The Bearcats only scored five points in the third quarter and West Harrison (13-9) had three more 3-point baskets.
Despite outscoring the Hurricanes by 10 points in the fourth, the Bearcats were just a little too late in the region game.
Logan Robinson led West Harrison in scoring with 17 points, including 11 free throws. Owen Reese finished with 12 points and Kameron Bolden contributed 11 points, including three 3-point baskets.
The Bearcats’ only double-digit scorer was Windham, who produced 25 points and had multiple rebounds. Everyone else who scored or touched the floor for Long Beach was either a freshman or a sophomore.
The Bearcats’ only double-digit scorer was Windham, who produced 25 points and had multiple rebounds. Everyone else who scored or touched the floor for Long Beach was either a freshman or a sophomore.
Next up
West Harrison will host George County on Tuesday in Gulfport while Long Beach will play on the road against region opponent Picayune. The girls games will start at 6 p.m. and the boys contests will begin at 7:30 p.m.
West Harrison will host George County on Tuesday in Gulfport while Long Beach will play on the road against region opponent Picayune. The girls games will start at 6 p.m. and the boys contests will begin at 7:30 p.m.
