Prep Basketball: Admirals rally to nip arch-rival Indians 62-60 Friday night

Gulfport’s Travor Frost has his shot altered at the basket by Biloxi Antwan Carter Friday night. (Photo by Bobby McDuffie)

By CURTIS ROCKWELL/Sports Director

BILOXI — The Gulfport boys bounced back from their first league loss in two years with an exciting win over an old arch-rival Friday night.

The Admirals, under the direction of second-year skipper Brian Butler, pulled out a 64-62 win over home-standing Biloxi at the Biloxi Sports Arena. The decision moved GHS to 9-1 on the year and 3-1 in the region race, while the Indians drop to 7-4 overall and are now 2-2 in the loop.

Gulfport’s Tavarus Brown stretches out for a shot as Biloxi’s Sevuan George defends Friday night. (Photo by Bobby McDuffie)

Gulfport’s Morris Robertson glides in for a lay-up vs. Biloxi Friday night. (Photo by Bobby McDuffie)

Gulfport’s Denzell Jackson looks for some working room as Biloxi’s Carnellus Lenard defends Friday night. (Photo by Bobby McDuffie)

Gulfport’s Dillion McInnis reaches out as Biloxi’s Ethan Richburg controls the ball Friday night. (Photo by Bobby McDuffie)

Gulfport’s Cameron Morris battles with Biloxi’s Kentrell Beasley for the ball Friday night. (Photo by Bobby McDuffie)

Gulfport trailed by nine points on two separate occasions in the game, before rallying to pull out the win.

“Our guys are very resilient,” Butler, who led GHS to a 12-0 mark in region play last year and the league title, said. “They refused to get flustered. They knew how much it meant to earn another district win, and willed us to win it. They made big plays down the stretch, and it was very fun to be a part of a game like that. Every game we have with Biloxi seems to be an instant classic.”

The Admirals were coming off a loss in Ocean Springs on Tuesday, and three days later found themselves trailing 47-44 entering the fourth period against the Indians on the road.

Biloxi’s Jakaiden Smith scrambles for a loose ball vs. Gulfport Friday night. (Photo by Bobby McDuffie)

In this sequence of photos, Gulfport’s Cameron Morris goes up for a lay-up as Biloxi’s Carnellus Lenard defends Friday night. (Photo by Bobby McDuffie)

Gulfport’s Denzell Jackson looks to make a pass as Biloxi’s Antwan Carter (32) defends Friday night. (Photo by Bobby McDuffie)

But, Gulfport went inside to the twin terrors of Travor Frost and Morris Robertson in order to turn the tide. Frost tallied six points down the stretch, and Robertson added five points, including three free throws, and GHS got a key 3-pointer from Javious Hales to pull out the big region win.

Frost tallied a game-high 22 points to guide Gulfport, while Robertson chipped in 16 points to the winning cause.

Kentrell Beasley led the Indians with 20 points, while Carnellus Lenard added 12 points and Jaklyen Edwards had eight points.

It was the final game before the Christmas break for Gulfport, while Biloxi remained at home Saturday afternoon to face Okolona in the annual Jackie Laird Classic.