STARKVILLE — Greg Carter wanted to see his Starkville Yellow Jackets take a step forward in developing their offensive game against rival Columbus High.
The Falcons, annually built around defense and rebounding, would provide the type of mental test the new-look Jackets need to accelerate their learning curve.
Friday, Starkville responded superbly to Carter”s call, overcoming a sluggish first quarter to earn a 56-24 win over its district rival.
The Jackets (4-1, 1-0 Class 6A, Region 2) got 14 points from junior center Gavin Ware, who fought constant double and triple teams on the block, and seven points from Steven Brand.
Against the Falcons, who held the Jackets to 39 points last year at The Beehive, Starkville had to exercise patience as much as executing points of the game plan.
Columbus head coach Sammy Smith opts to use clock and slow the game down against the athletic Jackets — a strategy that has frustrated SHS teams of the past.
At the end of the first quarter, the Jackets led 9-5 and 21-8 at the break.
Starkville hit five of their last six shots of the third quarter and took a 39-13 lead into the fourth. Ware closed the third with a mid-range jumper and an alley-oop from point guard Jacolby Mobley. Ware scored 10 of his 14 points between the second and third quarters as the Jackets found a way to break down the Columbus defense.
Ware said the team”s goal was to run plays against the Falcons, but they were resigned to working pick-and-rolls early on.
“We just had to stay patient because they were gonna pass the ball hundreds of times,” Ware said. “We just needed to figure out wherever we needed to be. Just don”t be so impatient to a point where we just totally lose it and start rushing everything and getting fouls.”
Carter said the Jackets” recent win over Indianola Gentry aided in their preparation for Columbus.
“We were so used to playing fast-paced, and it was a big adjustment to slow it down,” Carter said. “But today, we did a pretty good job with it. I thought we handled it real well. We expected it coming in. I think the Gentry game helped prepare us for it because they zoned us so much and we had to slow down. That”s kind of been fresh on our minds.”
Columbus (0-6) is still searching for its first win and continues its rebuilding process under Smith, who stressed his young players use the lessons from Friday”s loss. The Falcons feel unfortunate to not have a victory under their belt after leading in the fourth quarter of three of their losses.
“And be positive about it, it well help you,” Smith said. “If you go back in, be negative — haters as they say — you”re not going to get better. I”m excited about these guys. They go out and play hard, so those things will take care of itself.”
Junior guard Deontae Jones had 11 points for the Falcons and proved to be the only source of offense early on, scoring nine of Columbus” 13 first-half points.
“He”s the most experienced guy we”ve got back,” Smith said. “There was some timidness from the other guys, but that”s because they don”t want to make mistakes. As they gain confidence, that will go away.”
The Falcons hit the road Tuesday to face Kemper Academy, while the Jackets host Aberdeen on Tuesday.
GIRLS
Columbus 61, Starkville 39
Opponents of Columbus High”s girls” basketball team know they have to stop explosive sophomores Maggie Proffitt and Kiandria Patterson.
Still, the duo continues to shine.
Friday, Proffitt and Patterson each scored 21 points to lead the Lady Falcons to a 61-39 win over rival Starkville.
It was a rough go to start the game, however, as the Lady Falcons (3-1) began by shooting 2 for 19 from the floor.
CHS fell behind 7-0 after a 3-pointer from Starkville”s Whitney Taylor but rebounded to take a 24-17 lead at the break.
Columbus did most of its damage in the third quarter, where Proffitt collected four steals and scored six points. Columbus led 47-29 heading into the fourth quarter.
Proffitt scored 12 points in the second half.
“It feels great beating Starkville,” Proffitt said. “They beat us at home last year, so we wanted to come back and win. We really wanted this game.”
CHS head coach Yvonne Hairston was pleased to see her team overcome a slow start and find its rhythm through Proffitt and Patterson.
“In practice we try to generate any defense we see,” Hairston said. “If they go to box and one or a triangle and two, then they know what they”re supposed to be doing. And we needed it early. We could not hit a basket to start the game.”
The secret to Proffitt and Patterson, who account for 70 percent of the Lady Falcons” offense?
Screen action.
“We just work on coming off screens and picking and rolling, and that”s been the main way we”ve been getting open and having our shots fall,” Proffitt said. “That”s pretty much been it.”
Starkville (1-5) was without senior forward Courtney Moore, who leads the team with 13 points and eight rebounds a game. SHS head coach Kristie Williams said Moore missed the game because of “personal reasons” and is hopeful she can return Tuesday to face Aberdeen.
In Moore”s absence, Rebecca Myles had 10 rebounds, eight of which came on the offensive end.
“That was a big part of the game plan for us,” Williams said of Moore”s absence. “We needed somebody to step up. Courtney”s averaging 15, 16 points a game and almost eight to nine rebounds. Somebody has to step up and get that, and plus we need to try and fight harder.”
The Lady Falcons return to the court Tuesday against Kemper Academy, while the Lady Jackets host Aberdeen.
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