By CURTIS ROCKWELL

BAY ST. LOUIS — The annual Bay High Christmas Tournament has been a long-standing holiday tradition in prep basketball circles across South Mississippi for around 25 years.
And the two-day affair is back again this week, taking place Thursday and Friday at the Tiger Dome on the campus of Bay High.
Bay High head basketball coach Kelton Thompson, who guides both the Tigers and Lady Tigers programs, has assembled six boys squads and five girls teams to compete in the 2023 tourney that features five games per day (three boys and two girls). Included in that mix are four boys teams from the “Southern Six” as well as a quartet of girls teams from that coverage area also.

“We are very excited about our annual Bay High Christmas Tournament event,” Thompson said Wednesday evening. “I think we have a very competitive field of teams along with some premier players…such as the Coasts Leading Scorer in Matthew Krass (St. Patrick) and several other kids having college offer or have already committed. The lineup also features some great coaches, veterans and young up and coming coaches from our region.”

On the boys’ side of the bracket, the host bay High Tigers along with the Long Beach Bearcats, the Gautier Gators, the St. Patrick Fighting Irish, the Petal Panthers and the Wayne County War Eagles will each play games on Thursday and Friday. While on the girls’ side of things, Pass Christian, Petal and the host Bay High team will see action over both days while Gautier will play on Thursday and St. Patrick will take that spot on Friday.

The Bay High Christmas Tournament dates back to 1998 in its current form.
The Bay High tourney is one of three multi-day events to take place on the Gulf Coast this week, as there is also the seventh annual Lady Indians Holiday Classic in Biloxi as well as the 40th annual Admiral Hardwood Club Holiday Classic in Gulfport.
In other action on Thursday and Friday in Carriere, the annual Pearl River Central Christmas Tournament is taking place as well with three “Southern Six” boys teams involved.
The action tips off on Thursday and will continue on Friday in the four-team affair. In the opening round, St. Martin meets Pearl River High (La.) at 2:30, while the second boys’ match-up pits the home-standing Blue Devils against Pearl River County rival Poplarville at 5:30 later Thursday afternoon.
The two winners face off for the tourney title Friday and the two losing teams from the first day meet as well earlier that day for the consolation title.
The girls’ side of the bracket also features a trio of “Southern Six” squads as well, with the host Lady Blue Devils, Poplarville and Stone in action as well as Pearl River (La.).
Pearl River meets the host PRC squad at 4 p.m., Thursday following the Poparville vs. Stone match-up that tips the tourney off at 1 p.m.