By CURTIS ROCKWELL/Sports Director

LEAKESVILLE — The last time the Moss Point girl’s basketball team won the Region 8-4A championship was five years ago, in 2020.

That season also marked the last and only time the Lady Tiger program made it to the state championship.

Now, with Moss Point on the verge of registering its fifth 20-win campaign in seven years, including that 2020 season, the Lady Tigers hope that history will repeat itself in the Class 4A state playoffs once again.

Moss Point dispatched home-standing Greene County Friday night 35-26 in the championship game of the Region 8-4A Tournament here at Greene County High School. The win moved the Lady Tigers to a solid 19-10 on the season, as they wrap up league play at a perfect 10-0.

Head coach Ethan Porter’s crew now returns home to Dantzler Street to host Mendenhall in the opening round of the Class 4A South State playoffs on Monday night at 6 p.m.

“This has really a really special season,” Porter said. “This is the first team I’ve coached that went undefeated throughout the regular season and the tournament. It’s also special because this same group only won five games two years ago. These girls have been playing since they were freshmen and sophomores. We graduated only one senior last year and one senior the year before. These girls are experienced. They have played poised in big games. I couldn’t be more proud of these young ladies. I just hope we aren’t done yet.”

In their latest win, the Lady Tigers made sure that the host team for the tourney never got any ideas of an upset in mind as they jumped out to a quick double digit lead at 14-4 after one quarter.

Moss Point senior standout Jordyn Ford dropped in six points in that opening frame, while teammate Kristen Bailey added five points including a 3-pointer to help their team get off to that fast start.

After a sluggish second stanza for both squads made it 14-7 at the half, the Lady Tigers took the second half kickoff and reconstructed that first quarter magic in the third frame as Kaliyah Richardson drained a pair of triples and both Ford and Bailey scored four points apiece and MPHS sealed the deal.

Ford had 10 points to lead the Lady Tigers, while Bailey chipped in nine points to the winning effort and Richardson had that six points.

Monday’s meeting will mark the first against Mendenhahll for MPHS since Porter took over as head coach in 2018.