STARKVILLE — The sun was shining, temperatures were soaring and spirits were high on the streets of Starkville Thursday afternoon as the Starkville High School boys basketball team paraded through town in celebration of its recent state championship.
Hundreds of people lined the sidewalks as the parade made its way downtown and headed into the tree-covered Greensboro Street Historic District. The envoy then headed south on Louisville Street, crossed Highway 12 and came to an end at Starkville High School, for a rally.
Melissa Luckett stood along Main Street with her sons, Chris, 8, and Roman, 3, to show her support for the Yellowjackets, who defeated Meridian High School 57-51 Saturday to earn the Mississippi High School Activities Association 6A state title.
“I’m very, very proud of them,” Luckett said. “I hadn’t really followed the basketball team all year long, but I started following them recently and it’s really exciting.”
“I think it’s great for our town and great for those kids,” she added.
Starkville High School student Whitney Tice, 18, stood along Main Street with her mom, Charonda Summerville, to cheer on the team.
“I just came out here to support them because I can’t believe they won,” Tice said. “They are 6A state champions. I’m just proud of them.”
Tice says the mood at Starkville High is one of pride and excitement.
“Everybody is proud of them,” Tice said. “We didn’t think they were going to do it. I’m just happy. I’m excited. I just can’t believe they won.”
Starkville High School had not won a state basketball championship since 1961. Several members of the 1961 team rode in the parade, along with the Starkville High School cheerleaders, Starkville School District Superintendent Judy Couey and SHS Principal Keith Fennell.
Among others, the parade featured Starkville Police Department Chief David Lindley, Mayor Parker Wiseman and aldermen Roy A. Perkins, Sandra Sistrunk, Henry Vaughn and Jeremiah Dumas.
“It was a great day,” Wiseman said. “It’s very exciting for the whole community. We take a lot of pride in the accomplishments of a group of very extraordinary young men.”
Led by head coach Greg Carter, the SHS basketball team is made up of Rashad Perkins, Edward Townsel, Keon McKinney, Michael Brand, Nathan Ball, Shaquille Hill, Steven Brand, Gavin Ware, Brandon Johnson, Calvin Young, Jaquez Johnson and Tory Rice.
Perkins earned the Cellular South Player of the Game award after he scored 25 points and had 14 rebounds. He and Townsel were named to the All Tournament Team.
