By CURTIS ROCKWELL/Sports Director

GULFPORT — The West Harrison girls picked up an historic win of sorts Saturday afternoon.
The Lady ‘Canes, under the direction of head coach Patty Norwood, moved to just 8-10 on the season but came out victorious in the first game ever at the inaugural “Girls Grind MLK Classic” at Bert Jenkins Gym on the campus of Gulfport High School.
West Harrison nipped Heidelberg in a thrilling 48-47 decision in the opening game of the four-game event. The win helped the Lady ‘Canes bounce back a bit from a 53-40 loss to home-standing Hancock in Region 4-6A play Friday night.
“Heidelberg is a very good, well-coached team,” Norwood said Saturday afternoon. “We knew coming in that we would have to be scrappy, gritty and play West Harrison Basketball. That is what we did. We played hard, stuck together, and kept fighting until the end. That is who we are as a team.”

Norwood’s crew got a completely balanced scoring attack in Saturday’s win, as Sydnei Barber led the Lady ‘Canes with 10 points and a trio of other West Harrison players chipped in nine points apiece to the winning effort.
The Lady ‘Canes trailed throughout the first half, but stayed on the heels of the Lady Oilers thanks to six points in the second stanza by Taylor Rae Norwood and five points from Barber in that period plus five points from Miranda Parker in the opening quarter and faced just a 27-22 deficit at halftime.
It was the third frame where West Harrison began to make its move, doubling up on Heidelberg 16-8 in the quarter to turn a five-point intermission deficit into a three-point lead at 38-35 as the fourth period began. Jaylynn Applewhite tallied seven of her nine points in that all-important third frame for West Harrison.

In the fourth and final period, West Harrison got points from five different players including three more from Norwood as they held on for the big win.
Norwood was named the Most Valuable Player in the game, as she Applewhite and Parker all scored nine points apiece to support Barber’s team-high 10 points.
Deyshea Ransom was a one-girl wrecking crew for Heidelberg, as she poured in a game-high 31 points in the loss for the Lady Oilers.
West Harrison is back in action Tuesday night as the Lady ‘Canes resume Region 44-6A action on the road at Picayune. West Harrison finally returns home to The Hurricane Hole Friday hosting Long Brach in league action as well.