A rose to Morgan William University, previously known at Mississippi State University, on Friday’s historic overtime win over four-time defending champion Connecticut in the semifinals of the NCAA Women’s Basketball Tournament.
William launched a high-arching 16-foot shot over a taller defender with a second remaining to give the Bulldogs’ a highly improbable, but thoroughly deserved 66-64 win. The basketball world is still buzzing over the Bulldogs’ win, which snapped UConn’s remarkable 111-game winning streak. Where this ranks among sports upsets is something to be debated, but one thing is absolutely certain: William’s last-second jumper was the biggest shot in Mississippi basketball history. All that remains is to beat South Carolina tonight and the Bulldogs will bring home the university’s first national championship. Any doubters? Didn’t think so. Hail State, indeed.
A rose to the city of Columbus and the Columbus-Lowndes Convention & Visitors Bureau for the renovations made in the alley between Catfish Alley and the grounds of the Tennessee Williams home. The project turns the alley, into a charming pathway joining the two city landmarks, complete with festive lighting, plants and iron and wood features that lead out to the Tennessee Williams home, where a broad concrete landing will no doubt become a popular gathering spot. A sidewalk and additional landscaping give the green space the feel of an urban park. Construction was finished just as the Columbus Pilgrimage began and only adds to the charm of the west end of the city, which continues to be a point of pride for the community.
A rose to Mark Coblentz, 12, of Starkville who is among the final 10 kid chefs still alive in the Fox Network TV show “MasterChef Junior.” Coblentz, the son of Robbie and Bonnie Coblentz, made a deconstructed s’more to hang onto one of the coveted spots in Thursday night’s show. Coblentz was among 40 cooks between the ages of 8 and 13 who were chosen for season five of the competition, which began in early February. The 10 finalists will now face various challenges as the season progresses, and their ranks will thin until one contestant is named America’s next “MasterChef Junior.” That winner will take home a trophy and the $100,000 grand prize. The next episode of “MasterChef Junior” will air Thursday at 7 p.m.
A rose of sympathy and appreciation to the families of Robert Snow and Randolph Lipscomb, both of whom died this week. Each in his own way, both Snow and Lipscomb can be considered preservationists whose devotion to their causes has proven to be of vital importance to our community.
Snow, who died Sunday at 91, bought and restored the majestic Waverley Mansion, spending the last 55 years of his life bringing the historic home back to life. Waverley is not just a point of pride for our community, but a national treasure.
Lipscomb, 71, who also died over last weekend, was a preservationist in a different sense. The Columbus attorney was the driving force between the city’s successful fight to maintain its original 16th Section lease agreement, a 14-year court battle that, had Lipscomb lost, would have seriously compromised the long-term viability of downtown, which was built squarely in the middle of 16th Section land. As we celebrate the Columbus Pilgrimage this week and take pride in the beauty of our downtown, we should pause to thank Lipscomb for his efforts. Both men will be remembered for the dedication and the enduring contributions they made to our community.
The Dispatch Editorial Board is made up of publisher Peter Imes, columnist Slim Smith, managing editor Zack Plair and senior newsroom staff.
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