SOUTH MISS 6 SPORTS

December 19, 2024

Prep Basketball Notebook: Panthers go off road for the holidays; Laird Classic Saturday and new “Super 7” polls

Pascagoula boys head coach Lorenzo Wright and his Panthers now suddenly face a 17-day layoff for the holidays. (Photo by Bobby McDuffie)

By CURTIS ROCKWELL/Sports Director

PASCAGOULA — It appeared as if it was set to be an action packed Christmas vacation for the Pascagoula boys basketball team.

Now, it looks like it’ll just be filled with a little practice time and a lot of turkey.

Pascagoula’s Quey’Sean Taylor and his 12-1 Panthers knocked off Mobile Davidson Tuesday night for their latest win. (Photo by Bobby McDuffie)

Panther head coach Lorenzo Wright informed SouthMiss6 Sports on Wednesday night that his squad had canceled Christmas plans for upcoming trips to play in holiday tournaments in both Tupelo and New Hope.

Pascagoula, which sits at 12-1 so far this year after a 71-52 win over visiting Mobile Davidson Tuesday and has won 41 of its past 44 games over the past two seasons, was supposed to head to Tupelo to Thursday to face Muscle Shoals, Ala., on Friday and then the host Golden Wave on Saturday.

Pascagoula’s Kelan Rich has been one of the top scorers for the Panthers all season long. (Photo by Bobby McDuffie)

Then, after a break to open Santa’s presents, the Panthers were set to head back to north Mississippi to compete in the New Hope Christmas Classic two day event facing Holmes County Central on the opening day of play.

But now, PHS will take its 12-1 mark into the new year and host D’Iberville on Friday, Dec. 3, after what will have been a 17 day layoff.

Biloxi’s Jaden Eckford and his Indians will host the annual Jackie Laird Classic on Saturday. (Photo by Bobby McDuffie)

Jackie Laird Classic

Speaking of holiday tournaments, the annual Jackie Laird Classic is set for Saturday at Biloxi High School.

Named after the legendary Indians head coach, the event has been paired down to just three games but will feature a trio of “Southern Six” boy’s squads in action.

Biloxi’s Alejandro Montalvo looks for working room vs. Hancock Tuesday night. (Photo by Bobby McDuffie)

The event tips off at Noon and will wrap up at 3:00 p.m., with an all “Southern Six” affair as the home-standing Indians host Long Beach.

“Super 7” in the “Southern 6”

Every Tuesday through the second week of March, we will publish our “Super 7 in the Southern 6” weekly boys and girls basketball polls involving all 48 prep basketball teams in our coverage area.

The weekly poll is the only one in the state that is voted on by a panel of veteran sportswriters, a few selected area coaches and other media members.