Here’s the Gulfport Holiday Classic all-tournament team and top players list
The 39th annual Gulfport Holiday Classic did not disappoint. Some of the best teams in the region and across the state descended on Bert Jenkins Gym for three days of exciting basketball.
About 2,200 people came to watch as eight teams battled for the title, Gulfport athletic director Bryan Caldwell said.
The D’Iberville Warriors were the last team standing for the second time in as many years under coach Robin Sikes. Three Warriors were named to the All-Tournament team, with two others coming from runner-ups Gulfport.
Here are the tournament selections as well as our picks for top performers of the event.
All-Tournament team
Dominic Simpkins, D’Iberville
Simpkins averaged a double-double in the tournament at 13.3 points and 10.7 rebounds per game. The forward’s best game came against Yazoo City, where he scored 16 points and grabbed 10 boards.
Gabriel Wells, D’Iberville
D’Iberville’s go-to point guard gave the Warriors big basket after big basket. Wells averaged 10.3 points per game and dropped 15 with six assists in the day one win over Meridian.
Le’Vontae Evans, D’Iberville
The senior was held scoreless on day two but played brilliantly in the tournament opener and finale. Evans poured in 18 points against Meridan and his 14 against Gulfport were crucial for the Warriors.
Terrance McNair, Gulfport
McNair averaged just seven points a contest but was a sturdy force on defense and on the glass. He had eight points and five rebounds on day one against Moss Point.
Zay Gill, Gulfport
Gill had the biggest scoring explosion of the week with a 30-ball against Moss Point on day one. The guard scored seven points in each of the last two games.
Top performers
Chandler Belford, D’Iberville
Belford was Sikes’ choice for tournament MVP after dominating on the boards in Gulfport. Belford’s best game came against Yazoo City, where the forward recorded a double-double with 12 points and 13 rebounds.
Kamari Mitchell, Gulfport
The Admirals got a steady dose of scoring from Mitchell throughout the week. Mitchell scored 9.7 points per game and led Gulfport in the championship bout with 10 points.
Javier Simmons, Gulfport
Simmons took control of the game against Picayune with a pair of threes and an emphatic dunk on his way to a 15-point outing.
Kedrick Osby, Moss Point
Nobody scored at a more prolific pace in Gulfport than Osby. The junior averaged 20 points a game, including two 22-point performances, and showcased why he’s one of the top scorers on the Coast.
Josh Holmes, Picayune
If there was any doubt if Holmes carried the clutch gene with him on the court, he erased it this week. Holmes hit the game winning shot against Wayne County and a long three-pointer at the buzzer to beat Yazoo City.
