Several Coast Girls teams in the mix for state basketball championships

Seventeen Coast teams reached the Girls State Basketball playoffs. Fourteen of those teams will be playing in first-round action at 7 p.m. Monday.

Contests between second- and third-seeded teams will be held Monday. The Region champions-- Harrison Central (Region 8-6A), St. Martin (Region 7-6A), West Harrison (Region 8-5A) get opening-round byes until the second round at 7 p.m. Friday.

In Class 6A, Gulfport (17-12) plays host to D'Iberville (9-15) at Bert Jenkins Gymnasium. Ocean Springs (18-8) entertains Biloxi (11-16).

In Class 5A, Long Beach (6-17) travels to Picayune, Pascagoula (23-7) entertains Stone (11-15).

Five teams reached the 4A state playoffs: Poplarville (10-16) travels to Bay High (21-6), FCAHS hosts East Central (14-11), Greene County (21-8) at Pass Christian and Moss Point (6-17) at Sumrall.

St. Patrick travels to Port Gibson in a 3A state playoff game.

Ocean Springs coach LaShonda Smith sees the Lady Greyhounds' 61-39 loss to St. Martin in the Region 7-6A tournament finals as a learning experience.

"They definitely need to take our performance tonight, self-reflect and look at all the areas where we were basically sub-par tonight and we have to come out more focused," Smith said. "How they come out and play Monday will show a lot of character. You can't just harp on this. We're blessed because we get to play on and some teams are sitting at home. We're blessed we're able to host a game and not have to travel. There are some positives and some things we did talk about. The girls just have to have a short memory, come out fired up and ready to go. At this point it's win or go home."

D'Iberville coach Renee Ladner is pleased with the Lady Warriors playing their way into the postseason.

"Anytime you're building a program, you have to take that next step," Ladner said.

The Girls state basketball Tournament will be held March 4-12 in Jackson. All quarterfinal games will be played at Jackson State. The semifinals and finals will be played at the Mississippi Coliseum.

This story was originally published February 21, 2016 at 1:15 PM with the headline "Several Coast Girls teams in the mix for state basketball championships ."