By CURTIS ROCKWELL/Sports Director

GULFPORT — For the first time in three years, host Gulfport has qualified for the championship game in its annual “Hardwood Club Holiday Classic”

Now, the Admirals hope to capture the crown in their own annual affair for the first time in 12 years.

Gulfport knocked off Madison Central 62-51 Friday night to cap off day two action in the event, and move to a perfect 16-0 under first year head coach Brian Butler. The Admirals move on to face perennial state power Starkville Saturday night at 7:30 in the title tilt.

The last time Gulfport played in the championship contest of the “Admiral Hardwood Club Holiday Classic” was in 2021 when D’Iberville took the title with a 58-44 win over the Admirals. The year before that, Merdian knocked off Gulfport 47-28 for the 2020 title.

The last time the Admirals won the title in this event was 2012, knocking off Pascagoula 50-44. It marked the 15th championship trophy for Gulfport in the four decade history of the tournament.

Gulfport and Madison Central were knotted up at 39-39 entering the fourth frame Friday night, but Butler’s crew turned up the heat both offensively and defensively in the final period outscoring the Jaguars 23-12 to pull out the double digit win.

The inside-outside combination of center Morris Robertson and point guard Chance Gaines led the way for the Admirals in the decisive stanza, as Robertson dropped in seven points and Gaines added six points. All of Gaines’ points came on his perfect six-for-six sheet at the free throw line, while Robertson added five free throws and a slam dunk.

Gaines scored 10 points through the first three quarters, including a pair of 3-pointers to pace Gulfport.

C.J. Burnham had six first quarter points for the Admirals, but Madison Central’s Marc Rowe and Brandon Parker combined for 20 first half points as the Jags took a 27-25 lead into halftime.

Gaines had five points in the third frame, as both he and Tavarus Brown nailed a 3-pointer apiece to pull the Admirals into that aforementioned 39-39 tie heading into the fourth period.

Gaines tallied 16 points to pace GHS to the win, while Robertson added 11 points to the winning cause.

Rowe registered a game-high 20 points for MCHS, while Parker added 11 points including a trio of treys but Gulfport held him scoreless in the second half.

In other action on Friday’s day two of the event, Starkville thumped Ocean Springs 63-34 to move on to face Gulfport. The Greyhounds meet Madison Central in the third place game Saturday night at 6 p.m.

Also, Pass Christian, which beat Bayshore Academy Friday afternoon, meets Oxford (Ala.) in the fifth place game at 4:30 p.m.