By CURTIS ROCKWELL/Sports Director

Yet another prep basketball season tips off in the “Southern Six” and all across the state of Mississippi Tuesday night.
All eyes are aimed on the “Big House” in Jackson as the season begins as every team hopes to end its season in the Mississippi Coliseum in late February/early March.
The “Southern Six had a trio of teams make it all the way to Jackson last season as the Pascagoula Panthers, Hancock Lady Hawks and St. Martin Lady Yellow Jackets all finished last year in their respective overall state semifinals round.

But none of that trio of squads get started on Tuesday night, as Pascagoula travels to Biloxi on Wednesday to open its season while both the St. Martin and Hancock girls won’t get started until Friday.
But there are plenty of all “Southern Six” match ups to get things bouncing on the first official day of the new season on the hardwood. Among those are Ocean Springs at Gautier, Moss Point at Biloxi, St. Martin at Vancleave, George County at Stone and St. Patrick at D’Iberville. All of those are slated to be boys and girls contests.

“The Journey to the big house starts tonight,” second-year Ocean Springs boys head coach Colin Goley said Tuesday morning. The Greyhounds went 20-9 last season and advanced to the second round of the Class 7A South State playoffs before falling to eventual state champion Meridian.
“Last year’s seniors and team set the standard and expectations of this program going forward. We expect to win every game and are going to fight every second. This team has new faces but are ready and prepared for the challenges this season holds. I’m excited to watch us grow, learn and compete. Go Hounds!”
Also, St. Stanislaus visits Picayune Tuesday night as well and the OLA girls head to Vancleave to meet the Lady Bulldogs while the St. Martin boys head that way as well to face the Bulldogs.

In other opening night action, the Gulfport boys and new head coach Brian Butler host Petal while both Harrison Central squads head up Highway 49 to face Hattiesburg. The girls game will feature the debut of new HCHS head coach Sandra Rushing.
The annual Pirates Basketball Invitational tips off Tuesday night in Pass Christian featuring 10 “Southern Six” squads over the three day duration of the event.

Action tips Tuesday and then will follow on Thursday and Saturday with four total games (two boys and two girls) each day.
The first game of the year in the new season will pit the Moss Point girls vs. Presbyterian Christian at 4:00 p.m., followed by the West Harrison boys taking on PCS at 5:30. First day action concludes with the host Lady Pirates meeting the Lady Hurricanes at 7 and then the PCHS boys make their debut under new head coach Robin Sikes at 8:30 against the Hancock boys.