By Maurice Singleton/Sports Writer

Both the Gulfport Admirals and their female counterparts will host Bay High Saturday afternoon at Bert Jenkins gym.

It’ll be the first action for the GHS boys (1-0) since they got their 2025 season off to a running start as they blitzed past Slidell 84-42 in the Pass Christian Invitational on Saturday.

Gulfport took the lead at 7-6 as senior Morris Robertson finished a steal with a layup to build a 4-0 run for the Admirals with just over two minutes played in the first quarter. That run would extend to 12 points before Slidell would get on the board again.

The Admirals would take a 34-15 lead into halftime. And although Slidell would have their best scoring production in the third quarter, it wouldn’t be nearly enough as the Admirals would put up 50 points in the second half, with 31 of those points coming in the fourth quarter.

“I like the fact that our energy level was high,” said Admirals’ coach Brian Butler. “Our intensity level was high, and our defense was pretty good. We played well together; we shared the ball pretty much. About eighty percent of our possessions, our post players were who they were supposed to be. They were pretty dominant.”

Travor Frost led the Admirals with his post play, putting up 13 first half points as the Admirals pulled away from the Tigers 34-15 at the intermission. The 6’7” sophomore would finish with 22 points to lead all players.

“He’s phenomenal,” said Butler. “He works so hard. He wants to be good so bad, but most importantly, he wants us to be better. And he happens to be a good post player.”

The Admirals solid post play was complimented by stifling defensive pressure that produced turnover after turnover. That pressure forced five first-quarter turnovers, which appeared to fuel the Admirals and totally take the Tigers out of their game after they opened with a 6-3 lead.

“Our game plan most times is to pressure somebody enough where they can’t run their stuff,” said Butler. “Kind of get them out of their routines, get them out of their comfort zones, and make them play fast like we do.”

Gulfport also got a jolt from returning point guard junior Denzel Jackson, who appeared to always be in the right place at the right time, and always make the right play.

“He’s the quickest guard down here,” said Butler. “He does a very good job of processing on the go. He makes plays on most of our possessions, and he’s doing a better job this year of looking for our bigs and creating for them.”

Frost led the Admirals with 22 points, followed by Jackson with 12 points.

Meanwhile, the Gulfport girls are also coming off of a big win on the road at Poplarville as they moved to 2-0 with a 65-29 thumping of Poplarville.

Alayah Hoyett led a balanced Lady Admiral offensive attack with 12 points. She scored seven of those in a decisive first half as Gulfport out-scored PHS 22-2 to take a quick and commanding advantage and never look back.

Majori Avery joined her in double digits with 10 points, while Jalesha Hanford and Nylah Childres both added eight points apiece to the winning effort.

Anirah Galloway and Addie Davis had eight points apiece to pace Poplarville.

Gulfport opened the season with a 59-23 win over home-standing Gautier.