SOUTH MISS 6 SPORTS

February 5, 2025

Prep Basketball: Lady Indians and St. Martin will meet in Region 4-7A Tournament finals again

St. Martin’s Kennedi Jenkins goes up for a shot vs. Harrison Central Tuesday night. (Photo by Elias Carman)

By MAURICE SINGLETON/Sports Writer

GULFPORT — The St. Martin Lady Yellow Jackets closed out the first quarter on a 7-0 run and they never looked back on their way to a 43-16 semifinal win over Harrison Central on Tuesday.

The Lady Yellow Jackets were down 3-0 to start the game, but from there they would actually go on a 15-2 run, sparked by sophomore Kennedi Jenkins’ 3-pointer to open the scoring. Jenkins would get the steal on the Harrison Central inbound and complete a 3-point play, scoring on a layup and getting fouled and making the free throw.

St. Martin’s Kylenn Ward makes a pass vs. Harrison Central Tuesday night. (Photo by Elias Carman)

Harrison Central’s Saniyah Murray looks for some working room vs. St. Martin Tuesday night. (Photo by Elias Carman)

St. Martin’s Kylenn Ward goes up for a shot vs. Harrison Central Tuesday night. (Photo by Elias Carman)

Harrison Central’s Rhianna Anderson surveys the scene vs. St. Martin Tuesday night. (Photo by Elias Carman)

Kylenn Ward would also add 5 points during that stretch, including a 3-pointer at the buzzer to give the Yellow Jackets a 15-5 lead at the end of the first quarter.

Harrison Central outscored the Lady Yellow Jackets 8-4 in the second quarter, but the third and fourth quarters were all St. Martin as they held Harrison Central scoreless in the third quarter and allowed only one point for most of the fourth quarter, giving up a layup at the closing buzzer.

“They beat us the other night at our place on senior night,” said Lady Yellow Jackets coach Jason Kennedy. “That left a sour taste in our girls’ mouths. So, they were hungry for this game. You could tell by the way they came out defensively. Our little motto is, ‘together we swarm’, and we swarmed tonight on defense.”

Harrison Central’s Autumn Keeler reaches for the ball as Kylenn Ward of St. Martin defends Tuesday night. (Photo by Elias Carman)

Jenkins led the Yellow Jackets with 16 points and Ward added 11 points. Saniyah Murray led Harrison Central will 7 points.

In the other girls semifinal, Biloxi defeated Gulfport 53-31 as the Lady Indians got off to a hot start, sinking four 3-pointers in the first quarter to take a 19-8 lead at the end of the period.

Biloxi’s Aaliyah Davidson looks for some working room vs. Gulfport Tuesday night. (Photo by Elias Carman)

Biloxi’s Zaniyah Johnson goes up strong to the basket vs. Gulfport Tuesday night. (Photo by Elias Carman)

Biloxi’s Aubrey Hill makes a pass vs. Gulfport Tuesday night. (Photo by Elias Carman)

Biloxi’s Na’Kenya Terry looks for some working room vs. Gulfport Tuesday night. (Photo by Elias Carman)

Sophomore Jayla Carriere sank three and junior Na’Kenya Terry sank another to get the Lady Indians going.

Carriere led the Lady Indians scoring with 16 points. Terry added 11 points, and Zaniya Johnson finished with 9 points.

Presley McLaughlin led Gulfport with 7 points.

The Lady Yellow Jackets and Biloxi will play in the Region 4 7A Championship game on Friday at 6:00 p.m. Gulfport and Harrison Central will meet in the consolation game on Thursday at 6:00 p.m.

Biloxi head coach Devin Hill is all smiles as he welcomes point guard Jaya Carriere back to the bench vs. Gulfport Tuesday night. (Photo by Elias Carman)