By CURTIS ROCKWELL/Sports Director

GULF SHORES, Ala. — Despite a last-second loss on the road to a powerhouse foe from Alabama on Monday night, the Gulfport High girls basketball team wrapped up 2024 on a pretty successful note.

The Lady Admirals now hope to carry over that new found fortune into the new year.

Taylor Bjorgum of Gulf Shores knocked down a game-winning 3-pointer for the Lady Dolphins in the final seconds of play Monday night to slip past Gulfport 46-45 in the final day of play at the annual Gulf Shores Beach Bash.

Gulfport wrapped up the three day affair with two wins, though, as the Lady Admirals knocked off Pell City (Ala.) 51-32 on Friday and clipped New Brockton (Ala.) 47-44 on Saturday.

“We are trending in the right direction,” Gulfport head coach Marcus Price said. “We are still a fairly young team and have been very inconsistent. In some games, we look like we are ready to make that leap to becoming a really good team, while in others, we have reverted back to our old bad habits.”

Gulfport completed a massive comeback against Gulf Shores on Monday night to take a one-point lead in the final minute of play after trailing 25-5 at halftime and by as much as 17 points early in the fourth period.

The Lady Admirals used a combined trifecta of Majori Avery, Jalesa Handford and Kamyra Rockingham as each scored six points apiece in that fourth frame to power that almost improbable comeback. Rockingham’s total came on a pair of 3-point shots, while Trinity Moore added a trey as well for GHS in that period before Bjorgum’s long range bomb settled the decision for the Lady Dolphins

Kate Cimino scored 11 points to pace Gulf Shores, while Keyona Royal added 10 points and Bjorgum finished with nine points all coming on 3-pointers.

Avery guided Gulfport with a game-high 15 points, while Handford chipped in 12 points. Rockingham totaled 11 points for Gulfport, all coming in that chaotic second half, including a trio of treys.

The loss ended a three game win streak for the Lady Admirals, which began with their first win in Region 4-7A play this season just a few days before Christmas. Gulfport sits 7-8 overall on the season.

“I was extremely proud of how we fought back from behind to come back and take the lead with under a minute to go against Gulf Shores,” Price added. “I am happy with where we are in our evolution and understand that rebuilding a program is a marathon, not a sprint. We have shown vast improvements, but we still have a long way to go to become the caliber of team and program we aspire to be.”

In the first win at the Beach Bash, the 51-32 win over Pell City (Ala.) on Friday, Handsford scored 13 points, while both Sky Bush and Ashlyn Casey added 10 points apiece to the winning effort and Avery chipped in eight points.

On Saturday, in the 47-44 win over New Brockton (Ala.), Rockingham led the way to the win with 12 points and Bush added eight points for Gulfport.

The Lady Admirals are the first squad in the “Southern Six” to see action in 2025 as they host Hancock Thursday night befoe picayune comes calling to Bert Jenkins Gym on Friday night.