By CURTIS ROCKWELL/Sports Director

The state playoffs in prep basketball tip-off for the four smaller classifications across the state of Mississippi starting Monday night.

Class 4A-1A begin action in girls’ play on Monday and their male counterparts follow suit on Tuesday. All first and second round match-ups in these classifications take place on campus. Again this season, Class 4A-1A squads play one more game in the playoffs than do the three largest classifications Class 7A-5A.

Five “Southern Six” girls’ squads qualified for the state playoffs in Class 3A and Class 4A and all will be in action Monday night.

In Moss Point, the Lady Tigers face Mendenhall at 6 p.m., in the opening round of the Class 4A South State playoffs.

Also in class 4A play, Bay High travels to Quitman Monday night and Pass Christian heads to Morton to open the playoffs.

Meanwhile, in Biloxi, St. Patrick hosts Noxubee County to open the Class 3A South State playoffs at 7 p.m.

Our Lady Academy hits the road to Southeast Laudedale Monday night as well in other Class 3A South State playoff action.

The winners of Monday night’s action move on to second round play Friday night.

On the boy’s side of the ledger, a quintet of “Southern Six” squads also qualified for the state playoffs in Class 4A and Class 3A.

On Tuesday night in Class 4A action Pass Christian hosts Northeast Jones at 7 p.m.

Also in Class 4A South State playoff action, Moss Point travels to Mendenhall and Bay High heads to Morton.

In the latest battle of the Tigers, Moss Point knocked off Bay High 45-24 in the consolation game at the Region 8-4A Tournament in Leakseville at Greene County High Friday afternoon.

Trelynn Anderson tallied 12 points to lead MPHS to the win in that one, while JuJuan Nettles scored 10 points and grabbed seven rebounds. Breland Nicolas had four assists and Kevon Ford three steals for MPHS as well

In Class 3A play, St. Stanislaus hosts Kemper County at 7 p.m., and St. Patrick hosts Noxubee County at the same time.

The winners of Tuesday night’s action move on to second round play Friday night.