It’s a big night on the hardwood for local prep basketball teams, as five of the six area squads face district encounters.

Picayune, coming off a pair of losses in both boys and girls action to West Harrison, hosts Stone County in two Region 7-5A games. Both Stone squads swept Picayune in games last week.

Both the Maroon Tide and Lady Tide stand 1-3 in league play, while both Stone County teams are an even 2-2 in district action.

The Region 7-5A Tournament will take place at West Harrison High School in three weeks.

Meanwhile, Poplarville faces a big test in Region 8-4A play tonight. The Hornets head to Brother Peter Memorial Gym on the campus of St. Stanislaus College to take on the home-standing Rockachaws.

The Hornets are coming off a 44-37 loss to Bay High on the road Tuesday night. Freshman Gary Travis paced Poplarville with 12 points, while Rojae Raine added 10 points. Poplarville stands 2-4 in league play, and currently sits in a tie for fourth place in the league standings.

Kelton Piernas paced Bay High with 17 points. The Tigers are 8-10 overall and 5-3 in league play.

St. Stanislaus is coming off a solid 74-42 district win over Vancleave. Jerrod Rigby scored 18 points and Colton Johnson had 14 as 13 players scored for the Rocks, who stand 11-8 overall and 4-2 in league play.

The Poplarville girls are off tonight. On Tuesday, Bay High beat visiting Poplarville 45-13.

Shaneisha Hudderson scored eight points for the Lady Hornets, who are 1-4 in district action. Vanderbilt signee Christa Reed tallied a game high 25 points for the Lady Tigers.

In other action, both Pearl River Central teams return to Region 5-5A play tonight hosting Natchez. Natchez swept a pair of games from PRC last month.

Perry Central swept Pearl River Central on Tuesday night.

The Bulldogs knocked off the Blue Devils 68-59. Terek Whitehead tallied 17 points for PRC, while Alex Travis chipped in 14 points and Seth McCoy 13 points to the losing cause.

Rahem Magee and Anthony Bolton combined for 44 points to pace Perry Central, as Magee recorded 23 and Bolton 21 points.

The Lady Devils fell again, losing their fifth straight game as Perry Central took a 51-32 win.

Brandi Lee scored 11 points and had eight rebounds for PRC, while Tyionia Bolar added eight points and Destiny Malley had seven points. The Lady Devils are 4-16 overall, and 0-3 in league play.

The Lady Devils are still without senior center Jessica Powers, and PCHS junior forward Quadree McLeod dominated in the low post, scoring 15 points, mostly on putbacks, layups and free throws. She also had a half-dozen steals.

Junior point guard Toree Clifton added 13 points for Perry Central, which has won five straight games.

The Lady Devils also committed 22 turnovers in the game.