By CURTIS ROCKWELL/Sports Director

KILN — For the third straight season, the Hancock girls basketball team is headed to the Class 6A South State playoffs.

The Lady Hawks won their 33rd straight Region 4-6A game Tuesday night, dismantling Long Beach 64-26. The win moves Hancock to 16-8 overall, but more importantly 9-0 in the region race.

The decision also assured Hancock of the top seed in the upcoming region tournament, and the subsequent opening round bye in the annual event. That means also that the Lady Hawks and head coach Jamie Sisco are ensured of a top four seed at the conclusion of the tourney, resulting in an automatic berth in the state playoffs.

In the latest win, Lexi Ladner tallied a game-high 17 points to pace Hancock to the vicitory. Jaleigh Garriga had her best outing of the season with 14 points and nine rebounds, just missing a double-double. Long Beach transfer Paityn Langley chipped in 13 points and nine boards as well to the winning effort, while Lexie Dreher had seven rebounds, four steals and four assists. Madalyn Hoda scored seven points and dished out four assists, while Jayden Anglin had four assists for HHS also..

Long Beach fell to 0-9 in the loop and 1-22 overall with the loss. The Lady Bearcats will be the sixth and last seed in the upcoming region tourney.

Hancock finishes out region play Friday night at Gautier. The Lady Hawks then face a pair of Class 7A foes to round out the regular season next week, taking on Ocean Springs and Biloxi.

Meanwhile, Long Beach wraps up region play Friday night on the road in Carriere facing home-standing Pearl River Central.

The Region 4-6A Tournament will take place in Pascagoula in two weeks.