By CURTIS ROCKWELL/Sports Director
JACKSON — For the first time in 22 years, three prep basketball teams from the “Southern Six” will play for a state championship in three separate classifications in the same season.
The Pascagoula boys and St. Stanislaus are still alive in Class 6A and Class 3A, respectively, while the Harrison Central girls are still standing as well as yet another hoops campaign in the state of Mississippi winds down here at The Mississippi Coliseum.

First up at The Big House in Pascagoula as the Panthers face Terry for all the marbles in the Class 6A ranks Thursday night at 8 p.m. It maarks just the second time ever PHS has played for a state title, after it fell to Florence eaxctly 49 years ago to the day in 1977.
Then, Friday night Harrison Central takes on Starkville in the Class 7A state tile tilt at 6 p.m. It’s the 16th all-time trip to the state finals for the Red Rebelettes, and they are looking for thier 14th Gold Ball.
And finally, on Saturday at 4 p.m., St. Stanislaus battles Quitman for the Class 3A Gold Ball. It’s the third time to the title contest. for the Rock-A-Chaws, who won their only state crown 15 years ago this week in 2011.
It marks the first time since 2002 that this many Gulf Coast prep basketball squads from the six southernmost counties in the state will play for a state title in the same campaign.

Back then, it was two boys teams and a lone girls squad.
In Class 5A boys action, Gulfport slipped past Harrison Central 75-63 in overtime. The Admirals finished an outstanding season at 37-1 under the direction of head coach Bryan Caldwell with that one.
However, the other two coast teams weren’t as fortunate.
In the Class 4A boy’s state title tilt, Jackson Lanier nipped Picayune 77-73.
Also, in the Class 4A girls’ state championship game, Jackson Provine snuck past Bay High 60-58.

Here is the updated state championship schedule:

Championships

Thursday, March 5
6:00 pm	Class 6A Girls	Olive Branch vs. Neshoba Central
8:00 pm	Class 6A Boys	Terry vs. Pascagoula
Friday, March 6
10:00 am	Class 1A Girls	Okolona vs. Ingomar
12:00 pm	Class 1A Boys	Leflore County vs. Calhoun City
2:00 pm	Class 4A Girls	Tishomingo County vs. Louisville
4:00 pm	Class 4A Boys	Leake Central vs. Morton
6:00 pm	Class 7A Girls	Harrison Central vs. Starkville
8:00 pm	Class 7A Boys	Germantown vs. Starkville
Saturday, March 7
10:00 am	Class 2A Girls	East Union vs. New Site
12:00 pm	Class 2A Boys	Pelahatchie vs Northside
2:00 pm	Class 3A Girls	Booneville vs. Belmont
4:00 pm	Class 3A Boys	Quitman vs St. Stanislaus
6:00 pm	Class 5A Girls
8:00 pm	Class 5A Boys