By CURTIS ROCKWELL/Sports Director

Each week until the first weekend in March at the overall state tournament in Jackson, SouthMiss6 Sports will be the place to be to keep up with the most complete and comprehensive info about all things prep basketball featuring stories and photos in the “Southern Six” counties of the state of Mississippi.

Each week we will take a look at at least five players and five games to keep an eye on as well as release our weekly “Super 7 in the Southern 6 Poll”.

Starting 5 in the “Southern 6

This week’s “Starting 5 in the Southern 6” players list is comprised of area standouts that helped their respective teams pick up big wins over the past week.

1. Zaniya Johnson, Biloxi — The 6-foot-5 Prep All-American Johnson exploded in a 53-24 win over Meridian Saturday, posting a double-double as she poured in a game-high 29 points and pulled down 11 boards. Biloxi also beat home-standing Harrison Central Friday night in a key Region 4-7A encounter
2. Sydnei Barber, West Harrison — It was a good week for the West Harrison girls’ basketball team. The Lady Hurricanes capped off a perfect 3-0 five day stretch Saturday afternoon with a hard-fought 56-47 win over visiting Our Lady Academy and West Harrison got 18 points from Barber in its latest win, and she also had four steals and four assists against OLA.
3. Jeremiah Mark, Picayune — Picayune’s boys basketball team will head to Pascagoula to battle for the top spot in the Region 4-6A standings Tuesday night, after the Maroon Tide knocked off arch-rival Pearl River Central 55-37 Friday night on the road in Carriere. The win pushed Picayune to just 10-6 overall on the current campaign, but more importantly 4-0 in the region race, and Mark paced Picayune with a game-high 19 points in that win. He scored 17 of those points in the second half, including nine points Mark had the hot hand in that decisive final period for the Maroon Tide, as he registered nine points down the stretch including a 3-pointer.
4. Laikyn Moore, Picayune — Moore proved to be the difference against arch-rival Pearl River Central in a key Region 4-6A girls game Friday night, as the junior Maroon Tide standout scored six of Picayune’s seven points in overtime, including the game-winning basket, as the visitors nipped the Lady Blue Devils 64-63 in a thrilling affair here on the PRC campus. Moore poured in a game-high 24 points to pace Picayune.
5. Max Baria, St. Stanislaus — On Monday night, the Rocks rolled into New Orleans and knocked off perennial Louisiana state power Brother Martin 57-42. All the 6-foot-8, Dandy Dozen big man Baria. All Baria did was produce a double-double with 19 points and 11 rebounds and he also blocked seven shots as SSC moved to a solid 16-3 on the season.

This Week’s Games:

1. Picayune at Pascagoula (Boys) — Tuesday night in a key Region 4-6A contest.
2. Gulfport at West Harrison (Boys) — Tuesday night in a key Region 4-7A affair.
3. Bay High at Pass Christian (Boys) — Tuesday night in a key Region 8-4A contest.
4. St. Martin at Biloxi (Girls) — Friday in a big Region 4-7A game.
5. West Harrison at Ocean Springs (Girls) — Friday in a key Region 4-7A encounter.

South Miss 6 Sports Super 7 Polls

Super 7 in the Southern 6 Prep Hoops Poll!!!!

(Jan. 13th)

(Our weekly poll is the ONLY one in the state of Mississippi that’s voted solely on by a panel of head basketball coaches)

Boys:

1. Gulfport 15-1
2. West Harrison 16-1
3. St. Stanislaus 16-3
4. Pascagoula 14-6
5. Biloxi 12-5
6. Resurrection 12-4
7. Pass Christian 11-9

Girls:

1. Biloxi 17-1
2. West Harrison 16-1
3. Harrison Central
4. St. Martin 13-5
5. Hancock 11-8
6. Gulfport 14-4
7. (Tie) OLA 15-4 & Ocean Springs 14-6