By CURTIS ROCKWELL

In addition to Christmas, Monday also marks the debut of two new features here at SouthMiss6 Sports as well as the continuance of yet another we started a few weeks back.

Beginning this week and moving forward until the state tournament the first weekend in March, SouthMiss6 Sports will be the place to be to keep up with the most complete and comprehensive info about all things prep basketball featuring stories and photos in the “Southern Six” counties of the state of Mississippi.

Each week, on Monday, we will take a look at at least five players and five games to keep an eye on as well as release our weekly “Super 7 in the Southern 6 Poll”.

Starting 5 in the “Southern 6

This week we debut our weekly feature of five players we noticed recently for their accomplishments for the respective squads in the “Southern Six”. This week, though, to begin with, we will feature “7 in The 6”.

Week One Players:

1. Chris North, Pascagoula — The 6-foot-4 senior forward for the Panthers scored 20 points Saturday in the BA$$A Classic in Clinton to pace Pascagoula to a 70-59 win over Jackson Academy. For his efforts, he was named the Most Valuable Player in the game, as PHS won its 13th straight game to move to 13-1 overall on the season. 
2. Amir Abdul Rauf, Gulfport — Rauf combined for over 40 points in a pair of games last week, including a game-high 20 in a win over Picayune that snapped the Maroon Tide’s five-game win streak. Rauf also scored 24 points against Vigor and 26 points against D’Iberville in the past two weeks.
3. Brooklyn Cuevas, Hancock — Cuevas, a recent William Carey signee, has guided her Lady Hawks to a perfect 13-0 record as Hancock is the only girls’ or boys’ team in the “Southern Six” to reach the Christmas break unbeaten. Cuevas recently surpassed the magical 1,000 career points scored milestone after she scored 21 points on seven 3-pointers in a win over Ocean Springs.
4. Zaniya Johnson, Biloxi — The 6-foot-2 Lady Indian freshman center has been a walking double-double for Biloxi this season as the team stands at an impressive 14-1 at Christmas break. Johnson is, in fact, averaging almost 17 points and over 10 rebounds per game so far this season as well as three blocks.
5. Kaleah Lowery, St. Martin — The Lady Yellow Jacket sophomore standout was a key in the three wins in three days last week as she combined for 62 points in the stretch including a career-high 30 points in the win over Newman High of New Orleans Wednesday night. She also added a game-high 18 points the next day in a win over Fairhope moving SMHS to a solid 13-4 overall mark
6. Maddox Noblitt, Ocean Springs — Noblitt tallied a co-game-high 19 points to lead Ocean Springs past Biloxi in a key Region 4-7A early season match-up recently to push the Greyhounds to 3-0 in league play and to their ninth straight win as well. 
7. Matt Krass, St. Patrick —  A scoring machine so far this season for the Fighting Irish, the 6-foot-2 senior standout is averaging almost 27 points per game through 15 games as SPHS stands 11-4 on the season. 

Week One Games:

1. Hancock vs. Tuscaloosa Holy Spirit (Ala.) (Girls) — Thursday, 5:30 p.m., at Biloxi Lady Indians Holiday Classic
2. Biloxi vs. Covington St. Scholastica (La.) (Girls) — Thursday, 2:30 p.m., at Biloxi Lady Indians Holiday Classic
3. Greene County at Biloxi (Boys) — Thursday, 1 p.m., at Biloxi Lady Indians Holiday Classic
4. Pascagoula vs. Velma Jackson (Boys) — Wednesday at Madison County Holiday Tournament
5. Ocean Springs vs. Alexander City Benjamin Russell (Ala.) (Boys) — Thursday, 4 p.m, at Big Orange Classic in Hoover, Ala.

South Miss 6 Sports Super 7 Polls

Super 7 in the Southern 6 Prep Hoops Poll!!!!

(December 27th)

(Our weekly poll is the ONLY one in the state of Mississippi that’s voted solely on by a panel of head basketball coaches)

Boys:

1. Pascagoula
2. Ocean Springs
3. Biloxi
4. Harrison Central
5. St. Patrick
6. Picayune
7. Stone

Girls:

1. Hancock 
2. Biloxi 
3. Harrison Central 
4. St Martin 
5. Bay High
6. D’Iberville
7. (TIE) West Harrison & Moss Point