By CURTIS ROCKWELL/Sports Director

PONTOTOC — Both the Hancock High and Biloxi girls carried impressive records into the ninth annual “Tangle on the Trail” Tournament here at Pontotoc High School on Saturday.
But only one of the two “Southern Six” squads managed to head back home with a win.
Hancock suffered its first loss of the season after 17 straight wins to open the current campaign, as the Lady Hawks fell to perennial Alabama state power Hoover High 44-41.
It not only marked the first loss of the season for the Lady Hawks but was also the first game for Hancock without the services of standout forward Anslee James who was lost for the remainder of the season after injuring her knee late in a win over Biloxi Thursday night.

The Lady Indians, though, rebounded from that loss with a 38-28 win over South Panola in the final game of the 10-game event Saturday night.
Biloxi is now 17-2 overall, while Hancock drops to 17-1.
Biloxi standout freshman center Zaniyah Johnson was named the Most Valuable Player in the Lady Indians’ win, as she posted a triple-double with Zaniya Johnson led us with a triple-double as the 6-foot-3 center collected a game-high 19 points, pulled down 11 rebounds and blocked 10 shots 10 blocks against the Lady Tigers.
Also, Nakenya Terry chipped in eight points to the winning cause.

“We knew it would be a challenge, especially after a long bus ride today and playing the late game,” Bioxi seventh year head coach Devin Hill said after the game. “We were down one starter, and we battled foul trouble all night. I was proud of the girls for finding a way to win. Sometimes that’s what is all about, finding a way. It helps when you have Zaniya inside to take pressure off of our guards. She was the best player on the court tonight, and that’s saying a lot because South Panola has some girls that can go as well.”

In the Hancock-Hoover game, the Lady Bucs jumped out early to a 17-10 lead after the first quarter and the three-time and defending Class 7A state champions in Alabama never trailed despite a steady rally in the second half by Hancock that came up just short.
Recent William Carey signee Brooklyn Cuevas tallied a game-high 17 points including a trio of 3-pointers to lead the Lady Hawks, while Riley Bishop chipped in 11 points for Hancock.
Hoover’s Khloe Ford was named the MVP in the game, as she led the Lady Bucs with 11 points including nine of those points in the opening period when Hoover took that lead it would never relinquish.

Both Hancock and Biloxi remain on the road next and return to region action after a two-week break as the Lady Hawks travel to Long Beach Tuesday night to resume Region 4-6A play against the Lady Bearcats while the Lady Indians head to St. Martin on the same night for Region 4-7A action.
“I am just super proud of our team for finding a way,” Hill added. “Now, we can turn our attention back to district play and get ready for St. Martin on Tuesday.”