By CURTIS ROCKWELL/Sports Editor

OCEAN SPRINGS — The Ocean Springs boys basketball team could have easily beat perennial state power and Gulf Coast neighbor Biloxi all three times they faced off on the hardwood this season.
But, first-year head coach Colin Goley and his Greyhounds are surely happy to revel in the lyrics to that old Meatloaf hit “Two out of Three A’int Bad” after Tuesday night.
It took an extra session, but home-standing Ocean Springs toppled the Indians in the rubber match between the two squads this season 79-74 in the semifinals of the Region 4-7A Tournament before a packed house at Hubbard Gymnasium.
The win clinched a spot in the title tilt for the third-seeded Greyhounds Friday night at 7:30, where they’ll face top-seed Harrison Central in the finals.

But perhaps just as important, the decision also secured OSHS an opening round home game in the upcoming first-ever Class 7A South State playoffs next week.
“What an incredible game and atmosphere,” Goley said. “Both teams were making big play after big play. I’m so proud of our guys for staying together and walking through their punches. We never flinched and just kept battling.”
Biloxi’s Reggie Conner sank a pair of free throws with just one second to play in regulation to send the game into OT tied up at 66-66.
But the extra session belonged to the home team, as the Greyhounds got six points from Kaleb Bradley and OSHS outscored BHS 13-8 to end the game.

Bradley nailed a 3-pointer and was fouled late in overtime that he converted into a four-point play to put the Greyhounds up for good at 73-70. He stepped up in OT after leading scorer Maddox Noblitt was out when he fouled out on the play that sent Conner to the free-throw line late in the fourth frame.
Ocean Springs placed four players in double digits in what was an all-around complete performance to get the win. Greyhound big man Christian Bingham led the way with 17 points, while both Bradley and Elijah Isom chipped in 16 points apiece to the winning effort and Noblitt added 12 points.
Dayshawn Mcgee poured in a game-high 27 points for Biloxi, including all eight of the Indians overtime total, while Conner tallied 22 points and Bryce Hooker added 17 points.

The Greyhounds knocked off visiting Biloxi 61-52 in mid-December before dropping an exciting 56-51 decision in the rematch at the Biloxi Sports Arena a week ago. after OSHS led the Indians with less than a minute to play.

While OSHS will enjoy two days of rest, Biloxi just gets a day off before facing arch-rival Gulfport Thursday night at 7:30 in the consolation contest. That’s because Harrison Central hammered the Admirals 66-44 Tuesday afternoon.
Red Rebel sharp-shooting senior standout guard Aujaylen Barron posted a game-high 32 points in the win, while Shaun Murray added 16 points in the win. Mickey Duckworth grabbed nine rebounds for HCHS, and Nehemiah Barnett dished out six assists.
Amir Abdul Rauf guided Gulfport with 11 points, while Morris Robertson had eight points.