Prep Basketball: Lady Mustangs pound Lady Panthers to end season for Pascagoula

Pascagoula’s Khyliah Moore looks for some working room vs. West Jones Thursday night. (Photo by Steve Coleman)

By SAM STAFF/Sports Writer

SOSO — The season came to an end for the Pascagoula girls basketball team Thursday night.

Powerful West Jones thumped the visiting Lady Panthers 58-33 in the opening round of the Class 6A South State playoffs. Pascagoula, the fourth seed out of Region 4-6A, wraps up the season with three straight losses and at 14-14 overall.

Meanwhile, the Lady Mustangs move to an impressive 25-4 overall and into the Class 6A South State Quarterfinal round next week in Perkinston at Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College.

Pascagoula’s Khyliah Moore makes a break for the baseline vs. West Jones Thursday night. (Photo by Steve Coleman)

Pascagoula’s Iyonna Atkins goes up for a lay-up vs. West Jones Thursday night. (Photo by Steve Coleman)

Pascagoula’s Samaha Johnson surveys the scene vs. West Jones Thursday night. (Photo by Steve Coleman)

Pascagoula’s Clear Steward scrambles for a loose ball vs. West Jones Thursday night. (Photo by Steve Coleman)

West Jones set the tone early in this one, as Jakera Ducksworth scored seven first quarter points including a 3-pointer and her teammate Jama Hilton added six points in the period and the home took command quickly at 19-10 at the end of the frame.

Seniors Samaha Johnson and Clear Steward each nailed a triple apiece early on for PHS.

Yet another Pascagoula senior, Khyliah Moore, came alive in the second stanza scoring nine of her teams 11 points. However Brooklyn Grady responded for WJHS with eight points in the period, including a pair of 3-pointers, as the Lady Mustangs steadily stretched their lead to double digits at 35-21 at halftime.

Pascagoula’s Khyliah Moore works the ball down the court vs. West Jones Thursday night. (Photo by Steve Coleman)

Pascagoula’s Ja’Katelynn Johnson looks for some working room down low vs. West Jones Thursday night. (Photo by Steve Coleman)

Pascagoula’s Samaha Johnson makes a save on the baseline vs. West Jones Thursday night. (Photo by Steve Coleman)

Pascagoula’s Khyliah Moore splits a pair of Lay Mustangs on her way to the basket vs. West Jones Thursday night. (Photo by Steve Coleman)

Hilton was back at it in the third quarter for West Jones, as she nailed another trey and added another basket as well as the home team continued to dominate and went into the final frame ahead 48-27 and cruised to the win.

Grady paced WJJHS with a team-high 16 points in the win, while Hilton added 13 points and Ducksworth chipped in 12 points. Lakeria Russell had 10 points, giving the Lady Mustangs a quartet of players in double digits.

Moore poured in a game-high 19 points in her final outing for Pascagoula.

Pascagoula’s Ja’Katelynn Johnson watches as the ball bounces out of bounds vs. West Jones Thursday night. (Photo by Steve Coleman)

Pascagoula’s Rylee Hilliard reacts as the ball bounds away vs. West Jones Thursday night. (Photo by Steve Coleman)

Pascagoula’s Iyonna Atkins reacts to a blocked shot vs. West Jones Thursday night. (Photo by Steve Coleman)

Pascagoula’s Ja’Katelynn Johnson looks for some working room vs. West Jones Thursday night. (Photo by Steve Coleman)

Te Lady Panthers knocked off West Harrison in their regular season finale in fine fashion 666 on the road in Region 4-6A play to earn the second seed and an opening round bye in the league tourney. however, the wheels came off for PHS from there on out as they dropped two straight games in the region tourney last week before arriving in Jones County Thursday afternoon.