By CURTIS ROCKWELL/Sports Director

GULFPORT — Ocean Springs made a triumphant return to one of the most traditionally prestigious prep basketball tournaments in the state of Mississippi Thursday afternoon.

The Greyhounds rallied from a second half deficit with a big push to easily knock off Mobile Davidson 67-42 in the 41st annual “Admiral Hardwood Holiday Classic” here at Gulfport High. The win was the third straight for OSHS under the direction of second year head coach Colin Goley, all over teams from the Mobile, Ala. area, as the Greyhounds move to 8-6 overall on the season.

It marked the first appearance in the annual affair for the Greyhounds in 21 years, since finishing sixth in the 2003 event.

After a sluggish start offensively by both teams in the first half, Ocean Springs trailed slightly at 24-22 a minute into the third quarter before exploding on an impressive 21-7 run to close out the period and take command of the contest.

“It’s all about energy and defense and rebounding,” Goley said, of his teams come from behind win. “I felt like we had a lot of energy, and our goal is to disrupt the other team. We were able to go on a run there and make it stand up until the end of the game.”

Despite getting a trio of 3-pointers in the first quarter from Dandy Dozen Senior standout Maddox Noblitt, the Greyhounds and Warriors were knotted up at 12-12 entering the second stanza.

Ocean Springs managed just four field goals total in the second stanza, though, and all were the old fashioned two point type as Davidson pulled ahead just slightly at 25-22 heading into halftime.

But the third frame was all OSHS, as Jayvon Williams hit an early trey and freshman Jacolby Bailey stepped up just when he was needed the most and drained a pair of 3-pointers as well. Williams also added another field goal and a free throw as he and Bailey each scored six points apiece in the stanza and OSHS outscored the Warriors 21-6 to turn the tide for good.

“We just try and shoot the right shot,” Goley added. “We try and look for those catch and shoot threes when possible, and I have confidence that my guys can make them.”

Bailey added yet another trey in the fourth period as the Greyhounds cruised to the milestone win.

Noblitt led OSHS with a game-high 15 points, while Nolan Wells chipped in 13 points to the winning cause. Bailey finished with 10 points and Jeremy Packer had eight points for the Greyhounds.

The win marked the third straight win over teams from the Mobile area for OSHS in the past six days after Goley’s squad knocked off Theodore and Mobile Blount over the weekend in the Theodore Pre-Christmas Tournament.

Noblitt was coming off a career-high 32 pint performance in that 60-58 win Saturday night against the host team in that annual affair.

The Greyhounds will move on semifinal play Friday night at 6 p.m.