By CURTIS ROCKWELL/Sports Director

CLINTON — The recent prep basketball season wrapped up over the weekend with a quartet of all-star games.
And the event had a definitive “Southern Six” flavor in each of the four contests.
A total of 13 impressive juniors from the “SouthMiss6 Sports” coverage area were selected to compete in the 2024 Mississippi Sports Medicine North/South All-Star Basketball Games that were contested Saturday at A.E. Wood Coliseum on the campus of Mississippi College.
In addition, a pair of coaches from the Mississippi Gulf Coast were involved as well in the games.
Boys players from Moss Point, Ocean Springs, Pascagoula, George County, D’Iberville and Hancock were all included as were girls players from Hancock, Harrison Central, Biloxi, Pascagoula and Moss Point.
Ocean Springs junior standout Maddox Noblitt enjoyed the most productive day, as he scored a game-high 15 points to lead the South Squad in an 80-75 win over the North in the final game of the afternoon the Class 5A/6A/7A Boys Game.

Greyhounds first-year head coach Collin Goley was on hand to watch his soon to be senior as he served as an assistant on the South Squad.

““I thought the game was played at a high level, tough shot making, physical defense and really good players making plays,” Goley said. “There was 24 of the best Juniors in the state going at it. It was fun to watch and coach.”

Canton’s Jamarion Davis-Fleming (12 points, 10 rebounds, three blocks) was named the games defensive MVP.
Noblitt also grabbed four rebounds and had a pair of assists in just 14 minutes of action.

” “I thought Maddox played really well. Not only offensively but being one of the leaders of the South group and getting the guys to gel together,” Goley added. “I think he showed everyone why he’s one of if not the best junior in the class of 2025.”

Noblitt wasn’t the only “Southern Six” player to come up big for the South as Harrison Central’s Shaun Murray was one of four South standouts in double digits in the win, as he tallied 10 points while Pascagoula’s Kelan Rich added eight points also and dished out a trio of assists.

D’Ibervile’s Juan Santiago chipped in six points to the winning effort. George County’s Deuce Knight and Hancock’s Donte Taylor both saw action as well in the game.

“It was a great experience and opportunity to be around talented coaches and players,” Goley concluded. “I learned a lot in the short amount of time I was there. The MAC put on a first class event.”

In the Class 5A/6A/7A girls game, it was North 71, South 40.
Yazoo City’s E’Kemi Johnson had a game-high 16 points to lead the North and was named the game MVP.
Tupelo’s Jade Rucker (seven points, 11 rebounds, five blocks) was named the games defensive MVP.
Five “Southern Six” products played for the South team. Pascagoula’s Khyilyah Moore. enjoyed the biggest day of the contingent as she tallied eight points and eight rebounds in a solid outing. Harrison Central’s Rhianna Anderson added three points and three rebounds. Also competing were Hancock’s Talana Bond and a pair of Biloxi Lady Indians in Aaliyah Davidson and Aubrey Hill.

A pair of Moss Point products were involved in the first two games of the day featuring players from the four lower classifications in the state.
In the Class 1A-4A Boys contest, it was the North 76, South 56.
Booneville’s Kedrick Simmons had 19 points and seven rebounds to lead the North and was named the game MVP.
West Lauderdale’s Kayden Peoples was named the games defensive MVP.
Moss Point’s Quey’Sean Taylor scored two points and had two rebounds for the South squad.

Bay High’s Kelton Thompson was the head coach of the South team.
“It’s always a privilege to be recognized by your fellow coaches throughout the state,” Thompson said recently. ” The event is great for all the kids involved and Mississippi Basketball. One thing I’ve loved about this event in the past is being able to meet and work with other kids and coaches from all over the State.”
In the Class 1A-4A Girls game, it was North 63, South 41.
Ingomar’s Macie Phifer had 11 points, while Belmont’s Carlie Brock was named the game MVP. Both players played for the winning team.
Moss Point’s Jordyn Ford tallied five points for the South squad.