By CURTIS ROCKWELL/Sports Director

With just two days left in the regular season in Region 4-5A, only one team has clinched a berth in the upcoming Class 5A South State playoffs and the other five are all still alive.
This much we know…Gautier has secured its first region title in 16 years and will be the top seed in the region race when the dust finally settles Thursday night.
And, perennial state power Laurel, the defending Class 5A South State champion, is in danger of missing the postseason for the first time since 2008, which was also the same year Gautier won its last league title.
The rest is just a mess.

So let’s delve into the possible scenarios that are in play on Thursday night as the regular season wraps up in Region 4-5A as we here at SouthMiss6 Sports see it…
If Vancleave beats Wayne County, Stone beats East Central, and Gautier beats Laurel on Thursday night, then Vancleave is the two seed, Stone the three seed, and Wayne County the four seed.
If Wayne County beats Vancleave, Stone and Gautier both win, then Stone is the two seed, Wayne County the three seed, and Vancleave the four seed.
If Wayne County, East Central, and Gautier all win, then Wayne County is the two seed, East Central the three seed, and Vancleave the four seed.
If Vancleave and Gautier both win and East Central beats Stone by 8 points or more, then Vancleave is the two seed, Wayne County the three seed, and East Central the four seed.

If Vancleave wins, Stone wins and Laurel wins then Vancleave is the two seed, Stone is the three seed and Wayne County the four seed.
If Laurel wins and both Wayne County and East Central win, then that results in Wayne County as the second seed and there would be a four way tie for the final two playoff spots between Stone, Vancleave, Laurel and East Central .
In that scenario, according to the Mississippi High School Activities Association Handbook and Manual last updated in 2020, “for three or more teams this will be combined records of the teams involved in the tie”.
In that case, Vancleave and East Central are 2-1 and East Central would then take the head-to-head tiebreaker for the third seed and Vancleave would be the fourth seed.
In the tie-breaking procedures, who beat the higher seeded team is the second factor and the 12-point tie-breaker is not needed.
Whew!