SOUTH MISS 6 SPORTS

January 3, 2025

Prep Basketball: Lady Hawks fend off Lady Admirals 42-25 in first “Southern Six” battle of 2025

Hancock’s Cambria Necaise goes up for the shot vs. Gulfport Thursday night. (Photo by Bobby McDuffie)

By MAURICE SINGLETON/Sports Writer

GULFPORT — The Hancock Lady Hawks scored more than half of their points from behind the arc as they soared past the Lady Admirals in their 42-25 win on Thursday night at Bert Jenkins Gym.

The Lady Hawks led 14-11 with two minutes to go before halftime, but they pulled away from the Lady Admirals with just under two minutes remaining on the second quarter clock, sinking two 3-pointers during that span to take a 20-11 halftime lead.

Hancock’s Abigail Carver shields the ball away as she attempts to stay in bounds vs. Gulfport Thursday night. (Photo by Bobby McDuffie)

Hancock’s Talana Bond reacts as she moves the ball swiftly down the court vs. Gulfport Thursday night. (Photo by Bobby McDuffie)

Hancock’s Abigail Carver moves the ball across the key vs. Gulfport Thursday night. (Photo by Bobby McDuffie)

Senior Talana Bond sank the first one, and senior Anslee James did the same thing on the Lady Hawks next possession to close out the second-quarter scoring with just under a minute and a half left in the period.

And they started the third quarter just like they finished the second quarter as senior Jordan Bishop sank a 3-pointer following a Gulfport turnover on a steal to increase their lead to 23-11.

“We struggled at first, but we came around in the second half, passing the ball, cutting without the ball, just playing ball,” said Lady Hawks assistant coach Derek Peterson. “It wasn’t any set plays; it was our girls just trying to hoop a little bit.”

Hancock’s Anslee James pulls down a rebound vs. Gulfport Thursday night. (Photo by Bobby McDuffie)

Hancock’s Abigail Carver makes a pass vs. Gulfport Thursday night. (Photo by Bobby McDuffie)

Gulfport’s Kamrya Rockingham makes a move with the ball vs. Hancock Thursday night as Lady hawk Jayda Anglin defends. (Photo by Bobby McDuffie)

The Lady Hawks would score two more threes in the third quarter as Bond would score another and senior Lila Turner would drill one with a minute left in the period. Hancock led 35-18 at the end of three quarters.

Bishop would sink her second 3-pointer of the game in the fourth quarter to total eight on the night for the Lady Hawks.

James would lead the Lady Hawks scoring with 13 points. Bond and Bishop finished with 8 points each.

James was coming off a 23 point performance in an impressive 62-39 win over Canton late last week in the first day of the the inaugural “Jungle Balls Classic” at Madison Central High School.

Hancock’s Anslee James makes a pass vs. Gulfport Thursday night. (Photo by Bobby McDuffie)

Gulfport’s Kamrya Rockingham makes a pass vs. Hancock Thursday night. (Photo by Bobby McDuffie)

Gulfport’s M.J. Avery moves the ball down court vs. Hancock Thursday night as Lady Hawk Talana Bond defends. (Photo by Bobby McDuffie)

Gulfport was led by Trinity Moore with five points. It marked the second straight loss for the Lady Admirals after they produced a three game win streak, with two of those wins coming in the annual Gulf Shores (Ala.) Beach Bash at Gulf Shores High over the weekend.

Gulfport’s record drops to 7-9 on the season, and they host Picayune on Friday night. Hancock improves to 16-2, and they resume play on Tuesday as they host Long Beach in a Region 4-6A match-up. The Lady Hawks sit atop the region race at 3-0 entering the new year.