By CURTIS ROCKWELL/Sports Director

GULFPORT — The St. Martin girls ended their season last year in the first-ever Class 7A Final Four in Jackson.

On Monday afternoon, in Gulfport, the Lady Yellow Jackets ensured them selves of a at least a shot at returning to the “Big House” once again this year.

St. Martin smacked D’Iberville 58-18 in the opening game of the Region 4-7A Tournament here at Bert Jenkins Gym on the campus of Gulfport High. The win not only assures the Lady Jackets a berth in the upcoming Class 7A South State playoffs but pushes head coach Jason Kennedy’s crew into the semifinals of the league affair Tuesday night against Harrison Central.

“The girls played hard and played together as a unit today,” Kennedy said. “We’re excited to be back in the playoffs. From this point on the name of the game is survive and advance.”

St. Martin seemed set on securing that playoff spot from the first tip in this one, jumping out to a double digit lead at 12-2 after one quarter and stretching that advantage out to a commanding 30-4 at halftime over the hapless Lady Warriors.

Both Kylenn Ward and Janila Curtis recorded big second quarters for the Lady Jackets as each scored seven points in the stanza including a 3-pointer for both as well.

Ward led the Lady Jackets with 13 points in the win, while Curtis chipped in 11 points and Kennedi Jenkins added eight points.

Nay Jefferson scored 10 points for D’Iberville, which saw its season come to an end with the loss.

St. Martin moved to a solid 22-4 overall with the win.

In the other elimination game on the girl’s side of the ledger in the opening round on Monday, host Gulfport slipped past Ocean Springs 42-36.

The game was knotted up at 16-16 at halftime, but the Lady Admirals got a combined 19 points from M.J. Avery and Shamia Walker in the second half to fuel a 26-point outburst and keep their season alive.

Avery tallied a game-high 19 points to guide Gulfport to the win, including 11 in that decisive second half, while Walker chipped in 12 points.

Starr Jackson scored 17 points for the Lady Greyhounds as their season came to an end.

Gulfport moves on to face top-seed and arch-rival Biloxi at 4 p.m. Tuesday in the semifinals with the SMHS-HCHS game to follow at 7 p.m. The winner of each games secures a spot in the title tilt Friday night as well as a home game to open the playoffs next week.