GULFPORT — The second season begins for prep basketball teams all over the state this week, and it’s do-or-die time for all Pearl River County teams early in the process.

Both the boys and girls teams from Picayune, Pearl River Central and Poplarville all face season-ending elimination games over the next few days, as their respective district tournament action begins for all three schools.

The Region 7-5A Tournament takes place here at West Harrison High School beginning on Tuesday, and both Picayune teams get things started early with each facing Stone County.

The Lady Tide faces the Stone girls at 4 p.m., to kick off the event, while the Maroon Tide faces the Tomcats at 5:30 p.m.

The Picayune boys are the second seed in the event and the Lady Tide is the third seed.

Both the West Harrison boys and girls are the top seeds in the tourney, and both will face fourth seeds from Long Beach in the final two games Tuesday.

West Harrison’s boys are 23-2 on the year, and one of the two lone losses came to Picayune in late December.

The winners on Tuesday meet Friday night in the title tilts, with the girls tipping at 6 p.m., and the boys playing at 7:30 p.m. The loser of each of the four games on Tuesday see their seasons come to an end.

Both Picayune teams traveled to arch-rival Pearl River Central Friday night to wrap up regular season play. A full report on those games will appear in Tuesday’s Picayune Item.

Meanwhile, both PRC teams will head to Jackson for the Region 5-5A Tournament next week which will take place at Wingfield High School.

The Blue Devils and the Lady Devils each finished 0-6 in league play. The PRC boys will meet Brookhaven in the opening round, while the Lady Devils will face Natchez.

Both Poplarville teams head to the Tigerdome in Bay St. Louis for the Region 8-4A Tournament, which takes place at Bay High.

The Poplarville boys tip off the tourney against the host Bay High Tigers at 4 p.m., Tuesday afternoon. Then, following the Pass Christian-Vancleave boys game, the Poplarville girls face the Vancleave girls at 7 p.m.

A win by either Poplarville team earns each a playoff berth and assures them a spot in Thursday’s semifinals. If the Lady Hornets win Tuesday, they would face the host team and defending Class 4A state champion Lady Tigers at 4 p.m., Thursday. If the Hornets win on Tuesday they would face the top-seeded Moss Point Tigers on Thursday at 5 p.m.

In Class 6A and Class 5A, only the first and second place teams after league tourney play earn state playoff berths. In Class 4A, four teams earn state playoff berths.