Who are top boys, girls basketball teams on the Coast? Here’s our new power rankings.
High school basketball on the Mississippi Gulf Coast has pushed past the holiday season and is nearing the most important stretch of the year.
The top spots remain unchanged from our last update, but several teams are forcing themselves into the conversation with region play just around the corner.
Here is the latest Sun Herald high school basketball power ranking.
Team records are as up to date as available. Please send records, results and stats to sports@sunherald.com.
Boys
1. Biloxi (16-1)
The Indians have had little trouble so far and are heading into 2022 with plenty of momentum. Biloxi finished the first half of its schedule with a 79-44 win over Moss Point. Rajaun Daniel had 12 points, six assists, five steals and three rebounds in the game.
2. Vancleave (14-2)
The Bulldogs have not seen much competition from the Coast but are still winning ball games. Forward Oscar Hampton remains one of the top scorers in the area at 14.9 points per game.
3. St. Patrick (15-1)
St. Patrick is home to one of the brighter stars in the region in Nick Krass. The senior is putting up 23.7 points a contest and has the Fighting Irish on a 15-game win streak.
4. Ocean Springs (12-2)
The Greyhounds continue to win and fly up the rankings. Ocean Springs primed itself with five games against teams from Alabama and walked away victorious each time.
5. Hancock (13-4)
The Hawks have rebounded well after a three game skid and have won five of their last six games. Hancock returns to region play on Jan. 4 against Harrison Central.
6. Harrison Central (10-3)
The Red Rebels have one of Mississippi’s best high school basketball players in Sam Murray II and he makes his return to the court following a minor knee injury this week in the Gulfport Adidas Holiday Classic.
7. Pascagoula (8-7)
The Panthers grabbed a much-needed win over Pass Christian to help right a teetering ship. Pascagoula had lost four of its last five games.
8. Pearl River Central (10-6)
The Blue Devils were poised to make a big run into January before it ran into a brutal three-game skid in the Hub City Christmas Bash. Pearl River Central gets an opportunity to rebound against Greene County before opening region play against Picayune.
9. Gulfport (9-6)
Region 8-6A is the only region in the entire state where every team has at least nine wins. All four teams made the Holiday top 10 and Gulfport rounds out the group.
10. Christian Collegiate Academy (13-1)
The Bulldogs have quietly won game after game before finally making their presence felt with a 51-47 win over a top 10 Coast team in Pearl River Central at the Hub City Christmas Bash. Nathan Patrick led the way with 16 points. Patrick is currently averaging 14.9 points a game.
Girls
1. Harrison Central (17-0)
The Red Rebels continue to cruise through their schedule with little issue. Harrison Central dispatched East Marion before the Holiday break with a 76-28 win behind Laila Walker’s 18 points and 12 rebounds.
2. Gulfport (10-4)
Gulfport has yet to lose to another Coast team this season. The Lady Admirals are 2-1 since the last rankings with a win over Pass Christian.
3. Moss Point (11-5)
The Lady Tigers have forced themselves into the conversation at the top of the rankings with a strong victory over Biloxi. Ar’Yonna Miller scored 10 and grabbed three boards to help lead Moss Point in the upset.
4. Pascagoula (10-4)
The Panthers are catching fire just as winter rolls around with four consecutive wins. Pascagoula has home tests against Brandon and Tupelo before beginning the all-important regional schedule.
5. Biloxi (12-4)
Biloxi has lost two of its last three games, including a second loss to Pascagoula, to fall three spots down the ranking. In the Indians only win in that span, Amiliyan Gaines scored 13 in a 48-19 route over Petal.
6. Hancock (10-5)
Hancock grabbed a big 39-26 win over Bay last week to give the Lady Hawks an extra boost heading into the most crucial part of the season.
7. Bay (11-6)
The Tigers were on a four-game win streak before running into Hancock. Bay High recently blasted East Central 44-1 and handled Our Lady Academy 60-16.
8. Pass Christian (7-5)
The Pirates are sliding down the list after three straight losses to Gulfport, Harrison Central and Pascagoula. A rematch with the Admirals and a key opportunity against Long Beach lie ahead of the regional schedule.
9. Gautier (8-7)
The Gators are taking a long two week break between games before facing Long Beach on Tuesday. Gautier had its eight-game win streak snapped by a rocketing Moss Point team.
10. Vancleave (7-7)
The Bulldogs have played just once in the past couple weeks and it was a 53-25 loss to West Harrison. Vancleave and Gautier are barreling toward a pivotal two-game series in January that could decide the region.
Team records are as up to date as available. Please send records, results and stats to sports@sunherald.com.
This story was originally published December 28, 2021 at 5:50 AM.
