Gregory approved as New Hope’s new football coach

Shawn Gregory has tried to give back wherever he has worked as a teacher and a coach.

Whether it has been at the prep, college, or professional level, the New Hope High School graduate has gained invaluable insight about the best ways to relate to players and to teach them the lessons they need to succeed.

Zaiontz looking forward to Frostbuster 250

This unseasonably cold weather is killing Bobby Zaiontz’s sinuses.

MSU women ready for SEC tournament opener

Three games ago, Martha Alwal showed what she is capable of when she applies herself.

New Hope boasts additional football signees

The New Hope High School football program extended its reach Tuesday throughout the state of Mississippi.

Tournament opener not ‘ho-hum’ affair for MSU

Vic Schaefer hopes the Mississippi State University women’s basketball team can back up his talk Monday afternoon.

As part of the annual teleconference prior to the Southeastern Conference tournament, Schaefer said he has to be the “proudest coach in the country” based on the fact his players have kept “plugging away” while learning to deal with the ups and downs that come with being a young and inexperienced team. Those signs reared their head again Sunday, as MSU fell behind Auburn University by 16 points at halftime en route to a 74-65 victory.

Carroll mixes offense, defense for Starkville Academy

STARKVILLE — A year ago, Nora Kathryn Carroll admits she wasn’t quite sure how sports fit into her future.

While Carroll played key roles for the Starkville Academy girls soccer and girls basketball teams, she wanted to work on her skills, particularly on the basketball court, to make a bigger impact.

Consider that goal accomplished and a bigger step left to take.

Lady Volunteers finish perfect season with state championship

CLINTON — The Starkville Academy girls basketball team closed the door Saturday in a most satisfying manner.

Starkville Academy reaches finals by beating Bowling Green

CLINTON — Nora Kathryn Carroll is a stat stuffer.

MSU women’s basketball travels to Auburn

Martha Alwal, Darriel Gaynor, Kendra Grant, and Jerica James were downright giddy Thursday evening.

Starkville Academy girls win state title

CLINTON — The Starkville Academy girls basketball team defeated Presbyterian Christian 54-33 on Saturday in the title game of the Mississippi Association of Independent Schools Overall State tournament at Mississippi College’s A.E. Wood Coliseum.

Maggie Proffitt scored a game-high 17 points and Sallie Kate Richardson added 12 to help the Lady Volunteers cap a 43-0 season, win their 52nd game in a row, and complete a three-peat of the MAIS Class AAA, Division II, Class AAA, and overall state championships.

For more on this game, see Sunday’s print edition of The Dispatch.

Starkville Academy girls

CLINTON — Sallie Kate Richardson has eight points and Nora Kathryn Carroll has seven to help the Starkville Academy girls basketball team lead Presbyterian Christian 29-14 at halftime of the title game of the Mississippi Association of Independent Schools Overall State tournament at Mississippi College’s A.E. Wood Coliseum.

The Lady Volunteers (42-0) used a 22-1 run from the end of the first quarter into the second quarter to break the game open.

MSU women knock off No. 11 Georgia

STARKVILLE — The Mississippi State University women’s basketball team has brought the “Secretary of Defense” to the verge of tears on several occasions this

season.

None of those efforts compared to the one MSU delivered Thursday night. The result brought a “whew” to Vic Schaefer’s lips as he savored his first signature victory.

Columbus High’s Cockrell signs with ECCC

Versatility is Jimmy Cockrell’s calling card.

Whether it’s on defense or offense or on the football field or the baseball field, Cockrell has been a constant in the starting lineup the past three seasons for the Columbus High School football and baseball teams.

Gaynor hopes she has set example

STARKVILLE — The college journey is almost over.

From the University of Oregon to Trinity Valley Community College to Mississippi State University, basketball has taken Darriel Gaynor on a winding journey that has had more than its share of ups and downs.

Starkville Academy ready to repeat three-peat

JACKSON — Tiffany Huddleston felt weird.

Usually, the Starkville Academy standout is a center of attention. On the soccer field, Huddleston has a knack for creating scoring opportunities or finishing chances. On the basketball court, Huddleston has had a steady hand in directing the Lady Volunteers’ offense and typically gets a fair share of attention because she is a conduit the team uses to get its offense going.

Hairston, Hamm lead VCA girls to title

Oversized post players and foul trouble aren’t any problem for Taylor Hairston and Alyka Hamm.

While those two elements could prove to be stumbling blocks for other players, Hairston and Hamm showed they can overcome just about any obstacle when it comes to helping the Victory Christian Academy girls basketball team complete a perfect season.

Alwal looks to have another strong outing

STARKVILLE — Thursday was an effort in redemption for Martha Alwal.

Coming off her second scoreless game of the season, the 6-foot-4 sophomore center wanted to make a statement against the University of Alabama. Alwal delivered with an 18-point, 15-rebound performance in a 75-51 victory at Humphrey Coliseum that helped the Bulldogs snap a two-game losing streak.

Relaxed Starkville Academy shares title victory

JACKSON — The power of the assist can’t be denied.

The Starkville Academy girls basketball team showed Saturday that sharing the basketball can be the best way to erase the memory of a forgettable afternoon.

Maggie Proffitt scored 19 points to lead three players in double figures in Starkville Academy’s 64-29 victory against Madison-Ridgeland Academy in the Mississippi Association of Independent Schools Class AAA championship game at Jackson Academy.

Starkville Academy survives against PCS

JACKSON — “Here we go again.”

Starkville Academy girls basketball coach Glenn Schmidt said the perfect words Friday afternoon after experiencing another Mississippi Association of Independent Schools roller-coaster playoff ride.

New Hope learns lessons in loss, visit with Catchings

CANTON — Seize the moment.

After everything the Lanier High School girls basketball team has been through this season, that concept wasn’t lost on Brittany Rose on Friday night.

Despite her lack of success and the team’s struggles form 3-point range early in the game, Rose received the green light from her coach and let another one fly with the game on the line.