SOUTH MISS 6 SPORTS

December 29, 2024

Prep Basketball: Pascagoula girls split pair of games in Biloxi at “Lady Indian Christmas Classic”

Pascagoula’s Nia Cook battles for a rebound Friday vs. Houston in Biloxi. (Photo by Steve Coleman)

By CURTIS ROCKWELL/Sports Director

BILOXI — The Pascagoula girl’s basketball team has been on a see-saw ride through the 2024 part of their schedule so far this season.

The Lady Panthers now hope to sway things in a more favorable direction as the second half of that slate tips off once the calendar flips to a new year later this week.

Pascagoula split a pair of games over the weekend in the eighth annual “Lady Indians Christmas Classic” here at the Biloxi Sports Complex.

Pascagoula’s Khyliah Moore goes up strong for a shot Friday vs. Houston in Biloxi. (Photo by Steve Coleman)

Pascagoula’s Ja’Katelyn Johnson scrambles for a loose ball Friday vs. Houston in Biloxi. (Photo by Steve Coleman)

Pascagoula’s Clear Steward makes a move down the baseline Friday vs. Houston in Biloxi. (Photo by Steve Coleman)

The Lady Panthers now sit 8-7 overall, and have won three out of their past five games after wrapping up play in Biloxi with a 41-4 thumping of over Raleigh Saturday afternoon.

Ja’Katelyn Johnson paced Pascagoula with a game-high 13 points, including eight points in the first quarter to help the Lady Panthers jump out to a quick double digit 10-0 lead that they would never relinquish. Khyliyah Moore chipped in 12 points to the winning effort, while Alorah Phillips added eight points for PHS.

That win followed a 52-39 loss to Houston in the opening day of play at the “Lady Indians Christmas Classic” on Friday afternoon.

Moore led PHS with 14 points in that loss, while Johnson contributed eight points.

Pascagoula’s Audrey Patterson battles for a rebound Friday vs. Houston in Biloxi. (Photo by Steve Coleman)

Pascagoula’s Clear Steward heads for the basket Friday vs. Houston in Biloxi. (Photo by Steve Coleman)

Pascagoula’s Iyonna Atkinson heads up to the hoop Friday vs. Houston in Biloxi. (Photo by Steve Coleman)

Houston’s Katelynn Jones turned in an 11 point worksheet in the first half helping stake the Lady Hilltoppers to a 25-17 halftime lead.

Jones then added seven more points in the third frame as Houston held off any Pascagoula comeback hopes.

Jones posted a game-high 20 points in the win for the Lady Hilltoppers.

Pascagoula’s appearance in Biloxi’s annual affair marked the second straight two day tournament the Lady Panthers participated in, after splitting a pair of games in the Theodore (Ala.) Pre-Christmas Tournament the week before.

Pascagoula’s Khyliah Moore keeps her eyes on the basket Friday vs. Houston in Biloxi. (Photo by Steve Coleman)

Pascagoula’s Khyliah Moore looks for working room vs. Houston in Biloxi. (Photo by Steve Coleman)

Pascagoula’s Ja’Katelyn Johnson begins he drive to the hoop Friday vs. Houston in Biloxi. (Photo by Steve Coleman)

Just like in Biloxi, Pascagoula lost their first outing in Alabama before bouncing back with a win in the second game.

The Lady Panthers earned a 47-42 win over Mobile (Ala.) Baker in game two of the event, as Samaha Johnson poured in a game-high 21 points. Johnson added eight points.

In the first game on day one of the tourney, the host Theodore beat Pascagoula 41-34.

Prior to that, in Pascagoula’s final home game of 2024, Samaha Johnson tallied a career-high 26 points led the Lady Panthers to a huge comeback win over Mobile (Ala.) Davidson.

Pascagoula trailed by 20 points in the game before rallying for the win.

The Lady Panthers host D’Iberville along with their male counterparts Friday night before both squads host the annual “2025 Panther Classic” on Saturday.