CLINTON — The Starkville High School boys basketball team has had a lot of success in the Jackson area lately.
Starkville’s good fortunes continued in thrilling fashion Monday afternoon in a 60-59 victory against Murrah in the 10th-annual Rumble in the South Classic at Mississippi College’s A.E. Wood Coliseum.
Murrah (12-5) had possession with five seconds left under its basket. The pass went to Murrah’s Adam Wallace, who shot an air ball as time expired.
“Got five seconds to play defense. Switch on screens, rotate on drives, and once the ball was rolling on the floor just pick it up and hold it,” Starkville coach Greg Carter said. “We were up and down all game long. We did not play well to start the game and then come midway through second quarter we started executing, but then we started the second half turning the ball over and giving up fast-break layups and then we’d start playing well and did for the rest of the game.”
Starkville avenged its 64-60 loss to Murrah in the Columbus Joe Horne Classic two weeks ago.
“They didn’t show us anything different than the first time,” Carter said. “They played a little more zone, and that’s about it.”
Blake Rogers had a team-high 18 points (7 of 13 from the field), four rebounds, and one assist and was named the game’s MVP.
“At the beginning I was getting open and just knocking down shots,” Rogers said. “It is very big for us to win down here. We got young guards, and we’re just getting better and better every day.”
Said Carter, “He’s been playing really well for us lately. Our guards as a whole have been playing well for us. Blake is just getting better and better every day in practice.”
Playing in the event, which celebrates the birthday of Martin Luther King Jr., creates an environment just like the one teams will face in the state tournament, so Carter likes the opportunity to prepare his players.
“I’m glad they put this on,” he said. “We look forward to it as coaches and the players love it. Great basketball atmosphere, and if we are fortunate to make it back in March we’ll have a little experience playing in an coliseum type gym.”
Jesse Little added 14 points for Starkville (15-2).
Damian Dear had a game-high 22 points to lead Murrah, while Eric Thornton added 21 and Jonas James had 10 for the Mustangs (12-5).
n Columbus 65, Jackson Academy 52: It wasn’t pretty, but coach Gary Griffin will take it.
In a game filled with turnovers, the Falcons were able to score early and run past the Raiders.
“I feel like Jackson Academy did a good job of slowing us down,” Griffin said. “We did not start the game out with a lot of intensity. We felt like out athleticism was going to overwhelm them, but we were able to build a comfortable enough lead to get us through.”
Robert Woodard II had a game-high 23 points, 17 rebounds, and six assists to lead the Falcons (9-7). He was named the game’s MVP.
“It was a very physical game,” Woodard said. “This year I didn’t want my heart broken. Last year we lost at the buzzer, so this year I came in with a chip on my shoulder to make sure that didn’t happen.”
Denijay Harris added 16 points for Columbus, the Mississippi High School Activities Association reigning Class 6A State champion, while Greg King had 15.
“We got a young team and these guys coming into the season they didn’t know want to expect,” Griffin said. “Playing in this type of atmosphere you better come ready or you will get beat.”
Michael Barber had 21 points to lead Jackson Academy (14-6).
n In another game played Monday night, Will Jones had 14 points to lead the Pickens Academy boys basketball team to a 57-20 victory against South Choctaw Academy.
Nyc Gann had 11 points and Lee Acker had 10 for the Pirates (12-1).
Pickens Academy will play today at Russell Christian Academy.
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