Gulfport-Biloxi Hoops Preview

Fourteen is a lot of combined state championships and 19 is a lot of combined wins especially in mid-December. Those are the numbers behind Friday’s hardwood showdown between Gulfport and Biloxi who have the longest running rivalry in the state of Mississippi.

The Admirals come in with an overall record of 10-1 and a mark of 9-0 against teams from the Magnolia State.

Meanwhile, Biloxi is 9-0 overall, having beaten every opponent to date by at least 14 points.

With starts like those, both schools have their sights set on something greater, but first things first is their first head-to-head duel of the season.

Adding to the juice is a head coaching match-up featuring two of the best on the Gulf Coast that used to play against each other in high school at the high schools they now coach. Gulfport head boys basketball Coach Owen Miller said, “These are the kinds of games as a coach you don’t have to say a lot. They know what’s at stake. They’re friends with the guys over at Biloxi and they talk, they play summer ball together. We see them all the time, this is a game that if we’re having to as coaches get them fired up we need to check their pulse.”

Biloxi head boys basketball Coach Seber Windham said, “You don’t really have to say a whole lot, the school kind of knows who you’re playing. Gulfport knows who you’re playing. So my kids are going to be up, I know I’m going to get Gulfport’s best. Coach Miller is going to have his guys ready, they always play us really, really hard. So we know it’s going to be a tough contest, but it’s going to be also a fun atmosphere so we’re really excited to play.”

Biloxi senior Roshaun Jones said, “For everybody it’s a big rivalry, so our heads these past couple days have been really crucial. Our heads have been like really focused.”

Biloxi senior Jordan Montgomery said,“Of course it’s a rivalry but we’re going to approach it like every other game. Now we’ve got to just stay focused, and go out there and try to get a win.”

Gulfport senior Triston Godine said, “We expect to win. If we lose, we’ve just got to come back in here the next day and get better on Sunday.”

Gulfport senior Dontae Jackson said, “Yes sir. It would be better to win though. Yeah.”

Tip-off for tomorrow’s region 8 district clash is set for 7:30 p.m. from the Bert.