By CURTIS ROCKWELL/Sports Director

KILN — Less than a week ago, the West Harrison girls’ basketball team was riding high with an impressive 21-2 record and seemingly a top two seed in the Region 4-6A Tournament as well as a berth in the upcoming Class 6A South State playoffs sealed up.
However, a lot of things changed in just a short time.
Pascagoula plowed into the house of the Lady ‘Canes and popped West Harrison 60-43 Saturday afternoon in both the region and regular season finale for both teams.
The decision gave the Lady Panthers, and not West Harrison as expected, the second seed in the region tournament that tips off at Hancock High on Monday afternoon as well as the automatic opening round bye in the annual affair.
In addition to that, the Lady ‘Canes now face a do-or-die game Monday night with their season on the line despite coming into the postseason with a 22-4 record. West Harrison faces Long Beach at 6:30.

“Now is the moment. Every possession, every play matters.” Lady ‘Canes head coach Patty Norwood said, Sunday afternoon. “This is what we’ve worked for all season.”
Pascagoula finished the regular season at 14-11 overall with the win and like WHHS ends up at 7-3 in the region race. The Lady Panthers got the second seed due to a tie-breaker.
Lady Panther Khyliyah Moore poured in a game-high 32 points in the big win, while Samaha Johnson chipped in 13 points to the winning effort.
West Harrison got 17 points from Jaylen Applewhite and 13 points from Michelle Jackson in the loss.
West Harrison junior standout Sydnei Barber, who tallied a career-high 43 points in a 63-35 thumping of Pascagoula on the road three weeks ago, was limited to just nine points on a trio of 3-pointers this time by the Lady Panthers.

“I’m just glad we decided to show up!” PHS second-year head coach Lakeia Westerfield said. “We are so up and down and it’s frustrating at times, but when we show up and play we’re not that bad. We’ve just been trying to emphasize playing with intensity and just doing what we work on.”
Pascagoula is off until Tuesday, when a possible third meeting with West Harrison this season is possible this time in the region tournament.