SOUTH MISS 6 SPORTS

December 28, 2024

Prep Basketball: Bay High girls stop Picayune for second win in two days at annual Christmas tourney

Bay High headd coach Kelton Thompson gives instructions to Tiger guard Serenity Singleton in action at the Tigerdome. (Photo by Allan Ritter)

By JOSEPH W. GEX II/Sports Writer

Bay St. Louis — The Bay High Lady Tigers and the Lady Maroon Tide of Picayune battled for three periods of basketball in the Bay High Christmas Tournament before the Lady Tigers extended their pressure defense for a 54-36 victory on Saturday morning.

The two squads battled basket-for-basket throughout the first period with Bay High taking a slim 14-13 lead at the end of the opening period behind consecutive baskets from Emmalee Coote in the final minute of the period.

Lakeitha Sampson pushed the Lady Tiger lead to 18-13 with 4:30 to play in the first half. following a three pointer and a free throw.

Bay High opened the second half with a 5-0 run before Rhyen Goss stopped the bleeding with a basket at the 5:08 mark with Bay High winning 28-22.

Bay High’s Kayla Fricke makes a pass for the Lady Tigers in action at the Tigerdome. (Photo by Allan Ritter)

Bay High guard Serenity Singleton moves the ball cross court in action at the Tigerdome. (Photo by Allan Ritter)

Bay High head coach Kelton Thompson chats with a game official in action at the Tigerdome. (Photo by Allan Ritter)

Coote put the Lady Tigers (12-5) up 34-24 with 2:34 left in the third period. Laikyn Moore sank a half-court shot at the buzzer for Picayune to make the score 34-28. That would be as close as Picayune (8-8) would get as the Lady Tigers would lead by as many as 21 points.

Bay High head coach Kelton Thompson commented, “Coach Shayla Goss has done a tremendous job with the Picayune program. She has transformed the culture and you can see that by how they play for her. Defensively, they extend you up top. On film we saw some gaps that we felt we could expose. Going into the final period enjoying a lead, we were able to dictate the game. I was proud of the girls’ effort today.”

Coote paced all scorers with 18 followed by Asiah Thompson with 12 and Lakeitha Sampson had 10 while Lakyn Favre added 9 points with seven in the fourth period.

Picayune’s Rhynn Goss glides in for shot. (Photo by Steve Coleman)

Picayune’s Carleigh Gullotte looks for a passing partner. (Photo by Steve Coleman)

Picayune’s Kimora Banks grabs a loose ball. (Photo by Steve Coleman)

Picayune head coach Shayla Goss stated, “Bay High outlasted us and played harder than we did today. We were able to get some stops and force them into some uncomfortable areas with some hi-low pressure, but when we slacked off on that they took advantage them.”

Picayune was led by Rhyen Goss with 16 points and Laikyn Moore with 7 points.

On Friday, the Lady Tigers beat Christian Collegiate Academy of Gulfport 48-9.

The Lady Tigers jumped out to a 27-0 first period lead before playing the entire bench. Thompson led Bay High with 15 points followed by Sampson with 9 points.