By CURTIS ROCKWELL/Sports Director

Pascagoula’s 22nd straight was an important one as well.
Not just for the Panthers, but for Picayune also.
The Panthers secured a Class 6A South State playoff berth with an 84-55 thumping of home-standing Hancock Tuesday night in Region 4-6A play to move to a perfect 8-0 in league play. The win not only pushed Pascagoula to 22-1 overall but secured a top two berth for both PHS and Picayune in the upcoming region tournament.

With the recent expansion in classifications, the top two seeds in each region not only get a bye in the first round of the league tourney but also automatically qualify for a spot in the opening round of the state playoffs.
Pascagoula got 18 points from Dorian McMillan to lead the way to the win, while Kelan Rich chipped in 15 points, Markeuse Grady 11 points and Blake Nettles 10 points as the Panthers placed four players in double digits in the winning effort.

Mike Washington tallied a game-high 22 points including five 3-pointers for the Hawks, while Jude Ulrich added 11 points for the Hawks as they dropped to 2-6 in the region race and 11-13 overall.
At the same time Pascagoula was clinching a Class 6A South state play, on the road in the Kiln, Picayune was doing the same in Long Beach.

The Maroon Tide smacked the Bearcats 63-39 to move to 7-1 in league play with their only loss coming to the league-leading Panthers. The win clinched at least the second seed for the upcoming Region 4-6A Tournament which the Maroon Tide will host.
Picayune jumped out to a quick 13-0 lead to start the game and never looked back in cruising to the win.
Dakeith Quinn and Brunson Stockstill posted 14 points apiece to pace Picayune to the win as the Maroon Tide moved to a solid 19-8 overall.

Long Beach got 12 points from Wayne Ulrich as the Bearcats fell to 0-8 in league play and 4-19 overall.
Elsewhere in boys’ Region 4-6A play Tuesday night, West Harrison made it a clean sweep for road teams in the loop as the Hurricanes took down George County 41-33 at Rudolph Seller Gymnasium in Lucedale.
Javon McCaleb tallied a game-high 19 points to pace West Harrison to the win as the Hurricanes stand firmly in third place in the region race at 5-3 and moved to 14-8 overall.
Marlin Odom hit 17 points to guide GCHS in the loss, as the Rebels dropped to 1-6 in league play and 5-15.