By CURTIS ROCKWELL/Sports Director

In addition to a new year, this week also marks the return of a trio of updated weekly features here at SouthMiss6 Sports..

Returning 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’s top Players:

1. Amir Abdul Rauf, Gulfport — Rauf combined for over 73 points in three games last week during the Admiral Hardwood Club Holiday Classic and reigned as the top scorer in the event despite three Admiral losses. He tallied a 32 points Saturday as Gulfport wrapped up action in the event with a 68-53 loss to Princeton (Oh.)
2. Zaniya Johnson, Biloxi — The 6-foot-2 Lady Indian freshman center continued her season-long habit of posting double-doubles for the Lady Indians with a career-high 43 points and 13 rebounds in a dominating 57-22 win over St. Scholastica in the seventh annual Lady Indians Christmas Classic last week. She then added a game-high 25 points in a 58-19 thumping of Greene County, Ala., the next day.
3. Maddox Noblitt, Ocean Springs — Noblitt tallied a game-high 27 points including seven 3-pointers as the Greyhounds beat Benjamin Russell of Alexander City, Ala., in first-day play at the prestigious Big Orange Classic in Hoover, Ala., last week. Ocean Springs won two out of its three games in the annual affair.
4. Aujaylen Barron, Harrison Central — The senior guard registered a career-high 41 points in a 67-63 win over Albertville (Ala.) in the championship game of the Gulf Coast Holiday Classic at Springhill College in Mobile, Ala., on Saturday. Barron helped guide the Red Rebels to three wins in three days to take the title.
5. Nakeria Coleman, Bay High — Coleman helped the Lady Tigers to a pair of wins in the Bay High Christmas Classic last week she posted 10 points in a 46-33 win over Petal as well as a game-high 14 points in a 35-6 win over Gautier.
6. (Sixth Man) Matt Krass, St. Patrick —  Krass continued his high-scoring ways so far this season for the Fighting Irish as he combined for 57 points in a pair of losses in the Bay High Christmas Classic. He poured in a game-high 32 points in a 64-51 loss to Wayne County on Friday.

This week’s Games to See:

1. Poplarville at Moss Point (Boys) — Wednesday, 2:30 p.m.
2. Pass Christian at Bay High (Girls) — Wednesday, 6 p.m.
3. Biloxi at Hancock (Girls) — Thursday, 6 p.m.
4. Hancock vs. Hoover (Ala.) (Girls) — Saturday, 1:45 p.m., Tangle at The Trail Tournament in Pontotoc.
5. Pascagoula vs. Williamson (Boys) — Saturday, 5:30 p.m., at Raising Canes Panther Classic at Pascagoula.

South Miss 6 Sports Super 7 Polls

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

(Jan. 2nd)

(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. Picayune
6. West Harrison
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