Schaefer, MSU have plenty left to do this season

STARKVILLE — Vic Schaefer knows the Mississippi State women’s basketball team has a lot left to do this season.

Although it will be a challenge to close the season on a winning streak to get back to .500, Schaefer wants to see his Bulldogs continue to improve so they can establish a better foundation for the 2013-14 season.

Victory Christian girls two steps from title

The Victory Christian Academy girls basketball team is right on schedule.

Now the Lady Eagles will try to complete a perfect season.

SA’s Evans signs with UNA

STARKVILLE — One role isn’t enough for Tiffany Evans.

SA boys soccer ready to face Jackson Academy

STARKVILLE — Robert Gardner feels his team is ready.

Buoyed by the confidence gained from the program’s first playoff victory in seven seasons, the Starkville Academy boys soccer team (15-3-2) will take on Jackson Academy at 5 p.m. today in the semifinals of the Mississippi Association of Independent Schools Division I tournament.

New Hope’s magic runs out vs. Yazoo City

The magic finally ran out Tuesday night for the New Hope High School boys basketball team.

Coming off back-to-back one-point victories en route to a region championship, New Hope suffered through a cold-shooting first quarter and couldn’t muster enough defensive stops in a 58-48 loss to Yazoo City in the first round of the Mississippi High School Activities Association Class 5A North State tournament in Columbus.

Cold shooting in second half dooms MSU

STARKVILLE — The second half again proved to be the undoing for the Mississippi State University women’s basketball team.

After a solid first half and an aggressive flurry to start the final 20 minutes, MSU hit only three field goals in a nine-minute stretch en route to a 63-41 loss to LSU before a crowd of 1,405 at Humphrey Coliseum.

Danielle Ballard had a game-high 19 points to go with seven rebounds and four steals to help LSU (15-10, 6-6 Southeastern Conference) earn its first back-to-back league victories this season. It also marked the first time the Lady Tigers have won back-to-back games on the road.

MSU women look for bounce-back against LSU

If Vic Schaefer was curious to see how his Mississippi State University women’s basketball team handled a little success, he must be itching to find out how his team is going to regroup from one of its most disappointing efforts of the season.

Minichino Column: Trojans pick up confidence for stretch run

Friday night was an evening of growth, fight, and response for the New Hope High School basketball teams.

Big second half lifts Ole Miss past Mississippi State

OXFORD — A tale of two halves and a tale of two games.

New Hope plays for region titles tonight

Leave it to a coach not to be satisfied with a 30-point victory.

May providing pressure on defense for MSU

Everything starts with Katia May.

As much as the junior said in the preseason she understood what it meant to be point guard in coach Vic Schaefer’s system, May really had no idea what was required to “get up the line” and to pressure an opponent the length of the court. Playing defense for 94 feet is one thing, but doing it every possession?

Latham’s 3-pointer saves New Hope

Curtaves Latham is the epitome of a tweener.

At a solid 6-foot-1, the New Hope High School junior can go inside and bang with bigger bodies. But, like many post players, Latham likes to stray out to the 3-point line and launch a shot or two.

Sanders, Calmes ready to go for NHHS

“Painful.”

That’s the easiest and fastest way for D.J. Sanders and Moesha Calmes to describe their collision Jan. 18 in a game at West Point High School. But as much as the New Hope High juniors can look back on the incident and smile because they are feeling like themselves, they admit it was an experience they never saw coming or want to experience again.

Columbus powerlifters qualify for North State meet

Brandon Brown has seen a lot of progress in seven seasons at Columbus High School.

Now that he is moving on, Brown can look to the Columbus High powerlifting team’s most recent meet and know he has played a part in the program’s move into the upper echelon of Class 6A. That success also has played a key role in the ability of the school’s football team to compete in one of the state’s toughest regions and return to the playoffs for the first time since 2005.

New Hope basketball squads sweep Caledonia

There are a lot of ways to honor seniors in their final regular-season home games.

New Hope’s Stanfield will play softball at EMCC

Kasey Stanfield doesn’t mind working overtime.

She also won’t hesitate to haunt New Hope High School’s Lady Trojan Field long after practice has ended to work on her game.

Being part of the “Fantastic Four” with classmates Lauren Holifield, her sister, Erin Stanfield, and Ashley Reed helped make the extra hours playing softball on Friday and Saturday nights so special.

Three Falcons will soar on to college

Columbus High School football coach Tony Stanford sees the growth in his program.

This past season, the Falcons advanced to the Mississippi High School Activities Association Class 6A North State playoffs out of one of the state toughest districts.

West Point adds to tradition with eight signees

WEST POINT — Chris Chambless understand the value of tradition.

As much as he knows hard work has been a cornerstone of the West Point High School football program’s seven state championships, he also knows players like to see tangible examples of how they will be rewarded for their investment.

Heritage Academy’s Clark, Hamrick going to Northwest

James Clark and M.J. Hamrick are proof that word of mouth can travel any distance.

It’s safe to assume both players would have attracted plenty of interest from other schools in the state of Mississippi, but Northwest Mississippi Community College Mark Carson took the recommendations of several Mississippi Association of Independent Schools coaches who have played against Clark, Hamrick, and the Heritage Academy baseball team the past two seasons to add two prospects to his program.

Collins (USM) leads New Hope football signees

Trae Collins didn’t know where football was going to take him.

As a standout on the New Hope High School football team for the past two seasons, Collins was confident he was going to get an opportunity, but he couldn’t help feeling a little doubt when he didn’t receive a bounty of offers.