By CURTIS ROCKWELL/Sports Director

PASCAGOULA — While one big girls prep basketball showdown between foes from neighboring counties takes place in Harrison County Tuesday night another key encounter is going down in Jackson County as well.

The West Harrison Lady ‘Canes head to Pascagoula to tangle with the home-standing Lady Panthers in a key Region 4-6A battle. West Harrison is 3-0 in league play and Pascagoula sits at 2-1.

Both teams saw action for the first time in the new year over the weekend, as WHHS beat Alma Bryant (Ala.) Friday night and PHS split a pair of games at home.

The 66-58 win moved the Lady Hurricanes to an impressive 18-1 on the season, while PHS is 9-8 overall.

In the win over Alma Bryant, Sydnei Barber tallied. game-high 22 points to lead the Lady ‘Canes, including a quartet of 3-pointers. Harrison Central transfer Michelle Jackson chipped in 20 points to the winning West Harrison effort, while Jaylenn Applewhite posted a double-double with 15 points and she pulled down 11 rebounds for West Harrison.

The win marked the 18th straight for the Lady Hurricanes since dropping their second game of the season seven weeks ago to Harrison Central. West Harrison sits tied atop the region race with Hancock at 3-0.

In Pascagoula over the weekend, on Friday night, the Lady Panthers jumped out to a commanding 37-9 halftime lead and cruised to a big 50-24 win over D’Iberville.

Lady Panther Khyliah Moore tallied 12 first quarter points, including a pair of 3-pointers, to get PHS off to the quick start and finished with 20 points in the first half. Samaha Johnson had eight points in the second stanza, including two treys of his own, to push PHS out to that commanding advantage at intermission.

Moore poured in a game-high 27 points to pace Pascagoula.

Jefferson tallied 15 points to lead DHS.

On Saturday afternoon, Quitman beat the home team 51-29.

Moore led PHS with 11 points and Johnson added nine points.