By CURTIS ROCKWELL/Sports Director

PASCAGOULA — A pair of “Southern Six” boys squads tipped off the annual Raising Canes Panthers Classic Saturday afternoon with varying results.
In action in game one of the event, Pass Christian knocked off Quitman 55-47, while in the second game of the day perennial state power Hattiesburg slipped past Hancock 59-52.
The Tigers from the Hub City stand 17-1 on the season, with that lone loss coming at the hands of the Raising Canes Classic host team Pascagoula. The Panthers, meanwhile, stand 16-1, and that 55-54 win over the Tigers back on the first day of December is part of Pascagoula’s current 16-game win streak.

Hattiesburg out-scored Hancock 16-9 in the fourth quarter to pull out the win over a scrappy bunch of Hawks. The tough loss ended Hancock’s five-game win streak.
The game was knotted up at 43-43 after three periods, but Hattiesburg’s Stephen McCullon tallied seven points in the final frame to put the Tigers in front as they held on for the win.
McCullon registered a game-high 21 points to lead Hattiesburg. Hancock got 18 points from Jaxson Knght, while Mike Washington added 12 points including eight of those in the first frame when the Hawks jumped out to a slight 17-15 lead heading into the second stanza. Jude Ulrich chipped in 11 points for Hancock including a trio of 3-pointers. The Hawks are now 10-10 on the season.

Next up for Hancock is a trip to Long Beach Tuesday night to resume Region 4-6A play.
Meanwhile, in the first game of the day on Saturday, Pass Christian L.J. Jaynes poured in a game-high 30 points to guide the Pirates to their third straight win since the holiday break and their fourth consecutive win overall as PCHS moved to 12-7 overall with the win.

“He is always at his best in big games,” veteran PCHS head coach Buddy Kennedy said, of Jaynes. He’s one of three senior leaders who set the tone for us with their play every night. I feel like we’re coming together at the right time and those seniors are a big reason why.”
In addition to his 30 points, Jaynes had 7 rebounds, and a pair of assists and he drew a charge in the winning effort.
Jaynes came out of the gate on fire, as he drained five 3-pointers in the first quarter for 15 of his points as the Pirates jumped out to a 24-18 lead entering the second period. He finished the game eight-of-nine from long range.
The Pirates actually hit seven total treys in that opening frame, as Gus Simpson added a pair while PCHS was taking an early lead it would never relinquish.

Leading 35-30 at halftime, the Pirates held the Panthers to just 15 points total in the second half to secure the win. Terry Patton added seven points for PCHS.
It was a quick turnaround for Kennedy’s crew, as they were coming off a 68-13 thumping on the road of Poplarville Friday night in Region 8-4A play.
Brendan Necaise started and played just half the game for the Pirates and scored 13 points while Landon Hall came off the bench and had 13 points as well to pace the Pass. Jaynes had nine points in the first quarter and never took another shot. Simpson eight rebounds in the win.
The Pirates moved to 2-0 in league action, as they await a trip from Moss Point Tuesday night in region action.