West Harrison guard Maurice Stephens splits Picayune’s Donovan Rice and Hakeem Magee for a short jump shot last week. The same two teams meet tonight at Kelly Wise Gym in a big Region 7-5A showdown.
Photo courtesy of the Sun Herald

The Poplarville boys basketball team hopes a win over the weekend in Lamar County carries over to a pair of victories in Hancock County this week.

The Hornets, under the direction of second year head coach Chareck Cable, moved to 12-7 on the season Saturday with a 42-38 win over homestanding Lumberton.

Rojae Rain tallied nine points in the win for Poplarville, which moved to an impressive 12-7 overall with the win. Emetric Fells added eight points and eight rebounds to the winning effort. The Panthers fell to 2-13 with the loss.

Now, the Hornets hope to get back on the winning track in Region 8-4A play beginning tonight on the road at Bay High. On Friday, the Hornets travel to St. Stanislaus.

Both teams have already beaten Poplarville in league play, and the Hornets hope to be able to secure a higher seed in the upcoming district tournament with a couple of wins this week.

Bay High is coming off a 64-50 win over Vancleave in district play Friday night. Chris Moody led the Tigers with 17 points. Bay High is 7-9 overall, and 4-3 in league play.

Poplarville stands 2-3 in league play, and will play its final three region games on the road. After the two games this week, the Hornets travel to Pass Christian a week from tonight.

The Poplarville girls weren’t as fortunate on Saturday, falling to the Lady Panthers 37-34. The Lady Hornets face a tough challenge tonight, taking on the defending Class 4A state champion Bay High Lady Tigers on the road in the Tigerdome.

Lady Tiger senior standout Christa Reed fired in 32 points as Bay High rolled past Vancleave 64-12 in Region 8-4A action Friday night. Reed, one of the top recruits in the South, also had seven steals for Bay High which moved to 18-3 overall and a perfect 6-0 in league play. Breanna Smith added 11 points for Bay High. Reed, a 5-foot-9 forward, has already signed a scholarship with Vanderbilt.

Meanwhile, both Picayune teams host league leading West Harrison in big Region 7-5A games tonight. Both the Maroon Tide and Lady Tide are coming off their first league wins, sweeping visiting Long Beach Friday night.

Both the Hurricanes and Lady ‘Canes are a perfect 3-0 in district action, and have already knocked off Picayune at home last week. West Harrison is coming off a sweep of Stone County in league play Friday night.

Junior guard Harvey Smart scored 23 points as the Hurricanes rolled past the Tomcats 91-55. Deshaun Jones also had a solid performance for the Hurricanes, scoring 21 points and had 10 assists. He had 16 points at halftime.

The West Harrison boys are 19-1 on the season, and return to the scene of their lone loss tonight. Picayune beat the Hurricanes in the finals of its own Christmas Tournament just over three weeks ago.

The Tomcats are 2-1 in league play and 11-9 overall. After facing Long Beach in league play tonight, both Stone teams travel to Picayune Friday night.

Amari Lewis led Stone with 18 points and eight rebounds in the loss to West Harrison. Carl Mallett had 15 points. Peyton Owen added 11 points and 10 rebounds.

The Lady Hurricanes moved to 10-7 overall with a 70-45 win over the Stone girls as Asia Thibodeaux scored 25 points. Six-foot-two center Ameysha Williams added 20 points, 10 rebounds, four blocked shots and four steals in the winning effort.

Stone was paced by Akeyha Herren with 11 points.