Rivals Gulfport, Harrison Central square off at Hardwood Holiday Classic
One of the Coast's most intense basketball rivalries resume Monday at the Gulfport Hardwood Holiday Classic.
Longtime rivals Gulfport (10-5) and Harrison Central (6-7) meet at 6 p.m. in an opening round contest. The Red Rebels and Gulfport are expected to play three more times during the regular season and the Division 8-6A tournament.
Biscuit Floyd, who played at Gulfport last season, leads the Red Rebels in scoring, averaging 17 points, four assists and four steals a game.
"It should be an excellent, competitive game," Harrison Central coach Boo Hardy said. "We're trying to get guys healthy. If we get guys healthy, we'll be fine. People on the Coast will see two rivals competing against each other."
Gulfport needed a 21-2 run to pull out a 74-62 victory over Harrison Central in the Hardwood Tournament last year. Velma Jackson defeated Gulfport 43-35 in the tournament finals.
The tournament gets underway at 3 p.m. when West Harrison faces Metamora, Ill. In the tournament's other two games, St. Martin meets Pascagoula at 4:30 p.m. and Biloxi takes on Madison Central at 7:30 p.m.
"We've got a good field," Admirals coach Owen Miller said. "It's the best local field we've had. It's been awhile since Biloxi has played in the tournament. Pascagoula's playing as well as anybody right now. We've got
Madison Central coming back. St. Martin's off to a great start. Metamora has a good team. West Harrison's good. Harrison Central has a good team and they've played a tough schedule.
"The tournament will be a lot of fun. The team that wins the Hardwood Classic will have a chance to win a state title in March."
Stacee St. Julian of St. Martin is averaging a Coast-leading 24.5 points a game.
Metamora is coached by former Gulfport coach Danny Grieves.
The Hardwood Holiday Classic concludes with the Tournament finals at 7:30 p.m. Wednesday.
Three other tournaments are on the Coast: Vancleave's Paul Wallace Classic, Bay High Holiday Tournament and Picayune Tournament.
This story was originally published December 27, 2015 at 1:12 PM with the headline "Rivals Gulfport, Harrison Central square off at Hardwood Holiday Classic ."