By SAM STAFF/Sports Writer

PICAYUNE — The consolation contests in he Region 4-6A Tournament are on tap for Thursday night here at Kelly Wise Gym.
And although the West Harrison girls and boys along with the Hancock boys and Long Beach girls have already secured spots in the upcoming Class 6A South State playoffs, each is all fighting for the third seed out of the region and hopefully a more favorable playoff match-up in the first round.
All four teams, no matter the outcome Thursday night, will be on the road to open the playoffs.

The West Harrison girls are coming off a 44-28 loss to second-seeded Pascagoula in the semifinal round on Tuesday night. The Lady Panthers got a game-high 16 points from Khyliyah Moore and Samaha Johnson chipped in 12 points to the winning effort for PHS, which notched its third consecutive win over the third-seeded Lady ‘Canes this season.
Massyah Thomas and Kailynn Hyde added six points apiece for Pascagoula.
West Harrison got 15 points from Sydnei Barber in the loss, including a nine-point third quarter in which she nailed a pair of 3-pointers.
The Lady ‘Canes take on Long Beach in the consolation contest, after the Lady Bearcats fell to powerful Hancock 58-16 in the first semifinal game on Tuesday afternoon.

Hancock wasted no time in jumping out to a quick lead as Cambria Necaise drained a pair of 3-pointers while Brooklyn Cuevas and Talana Bond each added a trey of their own all in the opening three minutes of the contest and before the popcorn was ready the Lady Hawks had a 12-3 lead.
AmBrieal Smth dropped in a pair of baskets in the frame as well, and Hancock was in full control at 18-3 entering the second stanza and cruised to their 27th win on the season.
Shania Hope scored 13 of Long Beach’s 16 points, including a lone 3-pointer in the first period as well as all three of the Lady Bearcats’ points in the second period.
On the boys’ side of the bracket, the third place battle between the Hurricanes and Hawks marks the fourth time the teams have faced off this season.
The host Picayune Maroon Tide sipped by WHHS 4-39 in the second semifinal game Tuesday night. It also marked the third time that second-seeded Picayune knocked off third-seed WHHS this season.
The Maroon Tide used a balanced scoring attack in the winning effort, getting a game-high 12 points from Brunson Stockstill as well as 11 points from Niquis Ratcliff and 10 points from Darrell Smith.
Jazear Carter led the Hurricanes with 10 points while Owen Reese added nine points.

In the first semifinal contest Tuesday, powerful Pascagoula beat Hancock 58-41 sending the Hawks into the consolation game against WHHS.
Pascagoula extended its school-record win streak to 26 games with the 24-point point win over the Hawks.
The Panthers moved to 26-1 overall with the win, while Hancock fell back to 14-16.
Mike Washington had 14 points to lead the Hawks, while Todd Dedeaux had seven points.
On Friday night, the girls’ championship game will pit Hancock against Pascagoula while the boys’ title tilt will match up Pascagoula and Picayune.