Top players, key games to watch in state basketball quarterfinals at Coast Coliseum
For the first time since it opened in 1977, Biloxi’s Mississippi Coast Coliseum will be the host site of the high school basketball state tournament.
There will be 12 games played over three days in the 11,500-seat arena with the MHSAA boys and girls quarterfinals starting at 4 p.m. on Thursday when the Tylertown girls take on Yazoo County in Class 3A.
From Harrison Central junior forward Carlous Williams to Moss Point girls senior point guard Robyn Lee, there will be plenty of Division I prospects taking the court. The game that should draw the biggest crowd is set for 8:30 p.m. on Saturday when arch rivals Biloxi and Gulfport do battle for a spot in the Class 6A boys state semifinals.
Tickets are $10 per person, but children 5 and under get in for free.
The St. Patrick boys team is the only Coast squad still in the playoffs that won’t be playing in Biloxi this week. The Fighting Irish (22-8) will play Philadelphia (23-5) at 8:30 p.m. at Pearl River Community College in Poplarville in the Class 2A quarterfinals.
The state semifinals will take place at the Mississippi Coliseum in Jackson on March 2-4. All 12 state championship contests will be held March 5-7 at The Pavilion on the Ole Miss campus in Oxford.
Players to watch in Biloxi
BOYS
▪ Rashad Bolden, St. Andrew’s — The 6-foot junior guard is averaging 24.6 points, 4.1 rebounds and 3.3 assists.
▪ Devin Carter, Florence — The 6-foot junior is averaging 22.3 points and had a season high of 47 against Crystal Springs in December.
▪ Caleb McCarty, Biloxi — At 6-7, the senior is averaging 16 points, eight rebounds and three blocks. He has 104 blocks in 27 games.
▪ Caleb McGill, Petal — The 6-5, 245-pound senior forward is averaging 18.5 points and 9.8 rebounds a game.
▪ Treylan Smith, Petal — At 6-4, 185 pounds, Smith is a talented wing who is pouring in 19.7 points a game and averaging 7.4 rebounds. He holds offers from Mississippi State, Southern Miss and Central Florida.
▪ Carlous Williams, Harrison Central — With schools like Houston, Southern Miss and Baylor interested in him, the 6-6, 240-pound power forward is one of the best junior hoops players in the state. The super athletic Williams is averaging about 16 points and 12 boards.
GIRLS
▪ Zykeria Anderson, Raymond — The 5-4 junior guard is coming off a 35-point performance and Greene County and is averaging 23 points.
▪ Christina James, Jefferson Davis County — One of the most productive post players that will take the court in Biloxi this week, the 5-11 James averages about 20 points and 10 rebounds.
▪ Robyn Lee, Moss Point — A Louisiana Tech signee, Lee has been outstanding as a senior. The point guard is averaging 19.8 points, 6.1 rebounds and 2.9 steals.
▪ Keke Nichols, Pearl — The 5-11 forward/guard is a North Alabama signee.
▪ Debreasha Powe, Meridian — The 6-foot junior forward holds offers from Ole Miss, Alabama, Southern Miss and Vanderbilt.
▪ Jada Thrasher, Crystal Springs — Averaging 17.2 points, 4.2 assists and 2.6 steals, Thrasher is the senior leader for the Tigers.
Must-see MHSAA games in Biloxi
BOYS
▪ Biloxi-Gulfport — The two teams split the regular season series. The Indians won 39-38 on Dec. 13 in Biloxi and the Admirals won 54-43 at Bert Jenkins Gymnasium on Feb. 4. Both teams are playing their best basketball of the season, but Gulfport appears to be peaking at the right time after stunning Meridian on the road, 68-54, last week. While Gulfport relies on the talented backcourt duo of Deon Drake and Reubon Kelly, Biloxi will try to feed McCarty in the post.
▪ Harrison Central-Petal — These two teams met on Nov. 21 at Petal and the Panthers came up with the 58-54 victory. Carlous Williams put up 24 points and had nine rebounds. It will be up to players like senior point guard Mikel King and 6-7 sophomore Sam Murray to more involved for the Red Rebels to advance.
GIRLS
▪ McComb-Moss Point — These two teams met in the third round of the playoffs last season as Moss Point earned a 54-51 win. McComb appears to be a much-improved team at 25-6. If Moss Point is to advance to the state semis, Lee, the point guard, will again have to lead the way on offense.
▪ Pearl-Harrison Central — The Pirates have proven to be a powerhouse at 28-1. A year ago, Pearl ended Harrison Central’s season, 73-62, in the playoffs on the way to a Class 6A state championship.
Coast Coliseum schedule
Thursday’s games
▪ 4 p.m. — Class 3A girls: Yazoo County (15-15) vs. Tylertown (21-13)
▪ 5:30 p.m. — Class 3A boys: Yazoo County (19-11) vs. St. Andrew’s (26-6)
▪ 7 p.m. — Class 3A girls: Crystal Springs (26-4) vs. Jefferson Davis County (22-7)
▪ 8:30 p.m. — Class 3A boys: Velma Jackson (28-5) vs. Jefferson Davis County (20-8)
Friday’s games
▪ 4 p.m. — Class 4A girls: Raymond (17-11) vs. Purvis (24-9)
▪ 5:30 p.m. — Class 4A boys: Raymond (23-7) vs. Quitman (25-6)
▪ 7 p.m. — Class 4A girls: McComb (25-6) vs. Moss Point (23-7)
▪ 8:30 p.m. — Class 4A boys: South Pike (20-8) vs. Florence (24-7)
Saturday’s games
▪ 4 p.m. — Class 6A girls: Meridian (28-1) vs. Brandon (22-7)
▪ 5:30 p.m. — Class 6A girls: Pearl (28-1) vs. Harrison Central (26-5)
▪ 7 p.m. — Class 6A boys: Petal (17-7) vs. Harrison Central (25-4)
▪ 8:30 p.m. — Class 6A boys: Gulfport (26-6) vs. Biloxi (23-4)
This story was originally published February 26, 2020 at 2:16 PM.
