By CURTIS ROCKWELL

OCEAN SPRiNGS — The homestanding Ocean Springs Greyhounds ensured themselves that they’d have sole possession of first place in Region 4-7A for the holidays Friday night with a big 61-52 win over perennial power Biloxi.
The win was not only the eighth straight on the season for Ocean Springs under first-year head coach Colin Goley, but also moved the Greyhounds to 3-0 in the region race. The Indians fell to 2-1 in the league, and stand 9-4 overall. Both teams take about three weeks of loop action off before resuming region play the second week in January.
““It was a great team win, we guarded together, we rebounded together, we executed together and believed in each other.” Goley, whose team moved to 11-2, said. “That’s what’s it’s all about and I’m proud of them for that. I thought Elijah Isom was special last night, controlling the pace of the game and making the right basketball play throughout the game.”

The Greyhounds were ready for the battle for the top spot in the region race right from the tip-off it seems, as Maddox Noblitt and Christian Bingham each tallied seven points apiece in the opening period to put OSHS up 17-12 entering the second quarter. Both player had a 3-pointer in that span as well.
There was more in store of the same as the second stanza unfolded, as Noblitt hit a pair of 3-pointers and scored eight more points to help his Greyhounds extend their advantage to double digits at halftime outscoring the Indians 16-10 in the period to make it 33-22 at halftime.
The Indians weren’t done, however, as. Biloxi standout Reggie Conner came alive in the third period with eight points of his own including a pair of 3-pointer to help Biloxi cut into the deficit and trail by just five at 44-39 entering the fourth quarter.

Conner, who came into the game averaging right at 20 points per game, was limited to just six in the first half.
Bryce Hooker hit a pair of 3-pointers for Biloxi in the first half of the fourth quarter to further cut the OSHS lead to 53-50 with just under four minutes to play, but the Greyhounds sealed the win from the free throw line making nine of 10 shots in the final period including four by Tyler Nesby and three by Elijah Isom to end the Indians ‘s hopes.
Noblitt tallied a co-game-high 19 points to lead Ocean Springs, while Bingham added 17 points and Nesby had 11 points and Isom nine points in the winning effort.
Conner matched Noblitt for game-high honors with 19 points for Biloxi, while Dayshawn Mcgee chipped in 12 points and Hooker added 10 points as both teams had a trio of players in double digits.

Ocean Springs was originally scheduled to play in the War on the Shore in Bay St. Louis Saturday, but that game was cancelled so the Greyhounds are now off until after Christmas. Biloxi was back in action Saturday vs. Davidson High of Mobile in the Indians’ own Jackie Laird Classic at the Biloxi High Sports Arena.
In other boys’ Region 4-7A action Friday night, D’Iberville earned a rare win over Gulfport with 51-46 decision over the visiting Admirals.
Javontae Carter had a big game for the Warriors in the win, draining five 3-pointers and scoring 19 points total in a key performance for DHS. Jaylen Johnson added nine points for the Warriors, and Jhylonce Holden had eight points as well as D’Iberville moved to 1-2 and tied with Gulfport in the region race.
The loss over-shadowed an impressive performance by Gulfport’s Amir Abdul Rauf who poured in a game-high 26 points including four 3-pointers. M. Robertson added eight points for the Admirals.
Both teams are back in action Saturday afternoon in the Jackie Laird Classic in Biloxi as the Warriors meet Picayune at 1:30 and the Admirals face Vigor high out of Mobile, Ala.