Prep Basketball: Gulfport girls celebrate Christmas break with big Region 4-7A win over D’Iberville

Gulfport’s Kamrya Rockingham looks for some working room under the basket Friday night vs. D’Iberville. (Photo by Bobby Mcduffie)

By CURTIS ROCKWELL/Sports Director

GULFPORT — The Gulfport Lady Admirals celebrated Christmas a few days early Friday night.
Home-standing Gulfport came up with its first Region 4-7A win of the season with a 58-28 thumping of D’Iberville here at Bert Jenkins Gym. The win snapped a four game losing streak for the Lady Admirals as they move to 5-7 overall and 1-2 in the region race, while the Lady Warriors fall to 5-8 overall with their fourth straight loss and in that streak lies three consecutive league losses as they sit at 0-3.

Gulfport’s Jalesa Handford goes up for a shot as D’Iberville defenders Layla Evans (2) and Amayah Hill go for the block Friday night. (Photo by Bobby Mcduffie)

Gulfport’s Kamrya Rockingham gets tied up in the lane Friday night vs. D’Iberville. (Photo by Bobby Mcduffie)

Gulfport’s Jalesha Handford gets down on the ground for a loose ball Friday night vs. D’Iberville. (Photo by Bobby Mcduffie)

Gulfport jumped out to a quick double digit advantage after the first frame at 14-4 as Kamrya Rockingham tallied five points including a 3-pointer and Majori Avery dropped in a trey as well in the quarter.
It was more of the same type of offensive outburst for the Lady Admirals in the second stanza, as Ashlyn Casey drained a 3-pointer while Avery, Skyy Bush and Shamiya Walker each put in a pair of field goals apiece for four points each as the lead steadily grew for Gulfport and stood at a commanding 29-12 heading into halftime.

Gulfport’s Majori Avery moves the ball down the court Friday night vs. D’Iberville. (Photo by Bobby Mcduffie)

Any thoughts of a Christmas Miracle comeback the Lady Warriors might have had entering the second half were quickly laid to rest by the home team as the third quarter unfolded when both Casey and Avery went back to work with five points apiece in the period including another trey by both and Gulfport sailed to the comfortable win.

Gulfport’s Majori Avery looks for some working room under the basket Friday night vs. D’Iberville as Lady Warrior Laylay Evans provides pressure. (Photo by Bobby Mcduffie)

Gulfport’s Majori Avery brings the ball down court Friday night vs. D’Iberville. (Photo by Bobby Mcduffie)

D’Iberville’s Destiny Rogers moves the ball down court vs. Gulfport Friday night vs. D’Iberville. (Photo by Bobby Mcduffie)

Avery tallied a game-high 15 points to guide Gulfport, including a trio of treys, while Bush added nine points to the winning effort and Casey chipped in eight points.
Laylay Evans led DHS with nine points, including seven in the final frame when the die had long been cast.

D’Iberville’s Kennedie McGee reaches back to shield Gulfport’s Majori Avery from a loose ball Friday night. (Photo by Bobby Mcduffie)

Next up for the Lady Admirals after a short break to celebrate the upcoming holiday is a trip from one beach to another as they head east across the state line to Gulf Shores, Ala., to compete in the annual Gulf Shores Beach bash. The two day event begins Friday and will wrap up on Saturday.

Meanwhile, the Lady Warriors hope the short Christmas break will help bring tidings of great joy and an end to that losing streak as they bounce back in action on Friday as well in the eighth annual Lady Indians Holiday Classic at Biloxi High School.