MSU women’s basketball to make changes on defense

STARKVILLE — The “Secretary of Defense” may have to wage his battles a little differently this season.

Star back Robinson credits offensive line for Noxubee County’s success

MACON — Darrell Robinson understands words go only so far.

Ryals wins Mississippi State title

Randy Ryals didn’t have a good feeling when he learned Columbus was the location for the Mississippi State Championship / B.A.S.S. Federation Nation’s National Qualifier.

Ryals wasn’t happy with the site because he didn’t have much success the previous three times he had been to Columbus Lake.

MSU women gearing up for exhibition opener

STARKVILLE — Vic Schaefer won’t get caught up in numbers games in his first season as Mississippi State University women’s basketball coach.

West Oktibbeha shows ‘All-in’ attitude in victory against East Oktibbeha

CRAWFORD — Words don’t win games.

That may be the biggest difference between the 2011 West Oktibbeha County High School football team and the 2012 version.

West Oktibbeha ‘All in’ against East Oktibbeha

CRAWFORD — Tiberias Lampkin rushed for 175 yards and three touchdowns Friday night to lead the West Oktibbeha County High School football team to a 34-6 victory against East Oktibbeha.

Robinson dominates for Noxubee County offense

MACON — You’ll have to excuse Darrell Robinson.

Jones anchors tenacious Noxubee County defensive unit

MACON — Keep your head on a swivel.

If you do that, you might see Javancy Jones coming.

New Hope High School’s state title hopes end with playoff loss to Neshoba Central

The New Hope High School slow-pitch softball team has prided itself on being the program that has had all the answers in its run of five consecutive state championships.

Harvey, Williams growing into bigger roles for New Hope

A pitcher and a catcher have a special relationship.

Sometimes all it takes is a look or a slight gesture to deliver a message or to indicate which pitch to throw, or where to put it.

Brooks, Hudgins help set tone for Columbus softball

Porchia Brooks doesn’t walk into the circle intending to put a certain amount of spin on the softball.

Heritage Academy wants to keep hopes alive

Barrett Donahoe set making the playoffs in his first season as football coach at Heritage Academy as a realistic goal.

Columbus softball gets past Clinton

Jaime Ellis-Melton needs a rest.

As a former softball player at New Hope High School, Ellis-Melton knows something about tradition, so the drama of playoff competition shouldn’t faze her.

Noxubee County eases past Houston

MACON — Trust DeAngelo Ballard. Not only can you feel someone closing in behind you, but you also can hear him coming.

Noxubee County beats Houston to go to 9-0

MACON — DeAngelo Ballard threw three touchdowns and Darrell Robinson rushed for two and returned a punt for another Friday night to lead the Noxubee County High School football team to a 40-13 victory against Houston at Tiger Stadium.

District champion Columbus ready for playoffs

The foundation has solidified.

A year ago, Jaime Ellis-Melton felt the Columbus High School slow-pitch softball team might have established a foundation on which to build a program when it had its first winning season in a number of years and advanced to the first round of the Mississippi High School Activities Association Class 6A North State playoffs.

Seniors lead Starkville volleyball into playoffs

STARKVILLE — Loud. Funny. Serious.

The 2012 Starkville High School volleyball team has it all. After going undefeated in their region for the second consecutive season and matching their number of victories, the Lady Yellow Jackets hope to take their act on the road.

James, Blevins add spark for Lady Trojans

R.J. James and Taylor Blevins are getting more and more comfortable “hitting it hard and wishing it well.”

That slogan has long been the calling card of the New Hope High School slow-pitch softball team. As the No. 9 and No. 10 hitters in the lineup, the maturation of the junior outfielders has been a key to the success of this season’s team.

Columbus, New Hope looking for key victories

The Columbus High School football team needs running backs.

The latest round of injuries that hit Columbus last week has left it without Kendrick Conner (concussion) and Quan Latham (broken thumb) for its Class 6A, Region 1 game against DeSoto Central at 7 tonight.

Focus remains key for Noxubee County

MACON — Tyrone Shorter heard the talk in his locker room this week.

As soon as he discovered some of his players were looking ahead to a game against Louisville, the Noxubee County High School football coach squelched that discussion.