Here’s where Coast teams stand in our final regular season basketball power rankings
Region play is getting tense and top teams are beginning to stumble down the stretch. All-important seeding in district tournaments is at stake across the Coast as rivalries begin to intensify.
With postseason play looming, here are the final regular season power rankings.
Team records are as up to date as available. Please send records, results and stats to sports@sunherald.com.
Boys
1. Biloxi (20-2, 3-1)
The Indians continue to show their strength behind the play of Rayjuan Daniel and Duran Parish. Daniel stuffed the stat sheet against Gulfport with 14 points, seven assists, six rebounds and four steals.
2. St. Patrick (22-1, 6-0)
The Fighting Irish own the longest win streak on the Coast at 21 games. Star guard Nick Krass continues to show why he’s one of the Coast’s top scorers. Krass scored 29 points and grabbed eight boards against St. Stanislaus last week.
3. Ocean Springs (18-4, 4-2)
The Greyhounds finally stumbled after 16 straight wins. D’Iberville and Pascagoula picked up double-digit wins against Ocean Springs. Avery Carter scored 26 in a win over St. Martin, closing out the region schedule for the Greyhounds.
4. D’Iberville (16-7, 4-1)
The Warriors come crashing into the top five after taking control of their region. D’Iberville has won three games in a row against Ocean Springs, Pascagoula and St. Martin.
5. Harrison Central (14-8, 3-1)
The Red Rebels are holding strong and setting themselves up for a top seed in the Coast’s toughest region. A pivotal contest against Biloxi on Friday will determine who takes the first seed in the district tournament.
6. Gautier (16-7, 5-0)
The Gators have found their stride at the right moment. Gautier has won seven consecutive games and clinched a No. 1 seed in the Region 8-5A district tournament with two wins over Vancleave.
7. Vancleave (17-5, 2-2)
Vancleave drops five spots from No. 2 following the Gautier sweep. Despite the setback, Oscar Hampton and the Bulldogs are ready to prove the Coast wrong.
8. Gulfport (14-9, 1-2)
The Admirals are just halfway through their regional schedule but are already behind. Two match-ups with Harrison Central will determine whether or not Gulfport avoids a first round battle with Biloxi in the tournament.
9. Picayune (13-7, 4-0)
Picayune has taken a strong hold of its region with Josh Holmes and Troy Carter leading the way. The Maroon Tide have the top seed in the district tournament locked up.
10. Hancock (14-7, 1-4)
The Hawks have one of the more talented rosters on the Coast but have the misfortune of competing in the grueling Region 8-6A. Hancock has all but solidified a fourth-seed spot in the district tournament.
Girls
1. Harrison Central (23-1, 3-1)
Hayleigh Breland and Anaisha Carriere combined for 35 points in a 61-53 win over Gulfport. A rematch with Biloxi decides the top seed in the regional tournament.
2. Biloxi (16-7, 2-1)
Shaneal Corpuz recorded a triple-double in a 46-34 win over Hancock last week. The Indians remain in control of their destiny in the region.
3. Pascagoula (16-6, 5-0)
The Panthers have won seven straight, including five regional match-ups, to secure the top seed in the district tournament.
4. Pass Christian (19-6, 5-1)
Pass Christian continues to climb the rankings, surpassing Moss Point despite splitting the series with the Tigers. The Pirates have clinched the top seed in Region 8-4A.
5. Moss Point (15-8, 3-2)
Michaela Payton is averaging 12 points and 7.5 rebounds per game for a Tigers squad still battling for the second seed in the region.
6. Hancock (16-7, 1-3)
The streaky Hawks have two games coming up against Gulfport to gain better positioning in the district tournament.
7. Bay (16-7, 3-1)
Three wins in a row has Bay High on the climb. The Tigers won a defensive battle with Moss Point, 26-16, recently and the second game on Jan. 28 may decide the second seed in Region 8-4A.
8. Gautier (15-10, 5-1)
Gautier has won six straight games and done so convincingly. Its average margin of victory in that stretch is 36.3 points.
9. Gulfport (12-6, 0-1)
Back-to-back games against Biloxi followed later by a game against Harrison Central will decide the district tournament fate for the Simaru Fields-led Admirals.
10. St. Patrick (13-7, 4-2)
The Fighting Irish have four games to catch up to Tylertown. A key battle with the Chiefs is set for Jan. 28.
Team records are as up to date as available. Please send records, results and stats to sports@sunherald.com.
This story was originally published January 24, 2022 at 4:38 PM.
