Caledonia High opens volleyball playoffs tonight

CALEDONIA — The Caledonia High School volleyball team is ready.

Lady Bulldogs learning accountability in practice

STARKVILLE — The Mississippi State University women’s basketball team is learning what it means to be accountable for coach Vic Schaefer.

New Hope softball takes fantastic first step

The first step was simply fantastic.

Brown steps up for Pickens County

REFORM, Ala. — Jermarcus Brown knew his time was coming.

Lewis provides spark for undefeated Pickens Academy

CARROLLTON, Ala. — The expectations didn’t bother Josh Lewis.

New Hope softball begins postseason play today

It’s finally here.

That’s the weight New Hope High School seniors Lauren Holifield, Kasey and Erin Stanfield, and Ashley Reed have felt all season as the slow-pitch softball team worked its way through the regular season.

Crappie Masters tournament applauds Columbus

Paul Alpers has nothing but positive things to say about Columbus and the Tennessee-Tombigbee Waterway.

Heritage Academy blanks Oak Hill Academy

“The Catch” is one of the most memorable plays in NFL history.

Dwight Clark’s leaping, fingertip grab of a Joe Montana pass helped send the San Francisco 49ers past the Dallas Cowboys 28-27 in the NFC Championship Game on Jan. 10, 1982. San Francisco went on to beat the Cincinnati Bengals in Super Bowl XVI for the first of four titles in the 1980s.

Buntings win Crappie Masters National Championship

Charlie and Travis Bunting joked Thursday that they would have to come back to Columbus if they had good fortune to win the Bass Pro Shops Crappie Masters National Championship.

Now the next time the Buntings return to Columbus they will come back as champions.

Heritage Academy shuts out Oak Hill Academy

Miller Puckett ran for two scores and caught a pass from Lott for a third touchdown, and Lott and Turner combined on an “Oh no … oh yes” moment to lift Heritage Academy to a 42-0 victory against Oak Hill Academy in a Mississippi Association of Independent Schools game on Homecoming in Columbus.

Lowndes County public school teams in search of victories

Tonight would be an ideal time for the Lowndes County public schools to make a move in their respective football standings.

Donahoe expects Oak Hill Academy to challenge Heritage Academy

Barrett Donahoe doesn’t want to talk about moral victories or playoff scenarios.

The Heritage Academy football coach wants a victory.

Lady Bulldogs usher in new era with first practice

STARKVILLE — The Mississippi State University women’s basketball team took its first — albeit small — steps up Mount Schaefer on Wednesday.

Buntings will lead anglers in national title chase

The T-shirts Charlie and Travis Bunting wore Tuesday night reflect their love of fishing isn’t just a hobby.

Decked out in gear emblazoned with the names of sponsors — Southern Pro, Power Pole, Cabela’s, Ranger, or Vicious Fishing — that support them, the Buntings are like many of the anglers in Columbus this week for the Bass Pro Shops Crappie Masters National Championship.

Focus is at top of list for Noxubee County

MACON — The distractions are dizzying.

From the banner that hangs on the wall in the weight room celebrating the 2008 state championship team to the memory of a disappointing loss to Amory in the 2011 North State playoffs to the No. 1 ranking in the state’s latest Class 4A rankings, Noxubee County High School football coach Tyrone Shorter has plenty ammunition to keep his team focused.

Harris finds her calling coaching basketball

STARKVILLE — Johnnie Harris didn’t see the connection.

Crappie Masters national championship set for Columbus

There’s nothing wrong with having fun while you’re fishing and getting a chance to make some money for doing it.

That simple plan eight years ago gave rise to the Bass Pro Shops Crappie Masters AllAmerican Tournament Trail. In that time, anglers from all across the United States have won hundreds of thousands of dollars and countless prizes. The birth of Crappie Masters also helped introduce competitive fishing to a new audience.

Franklin brings experience, toughness to MSU women

STARKVILLE — A’Quonesia Franklin isn’t a numbers person.

If she was, there might have been a time when she doubted she could play Division I basketball.

But Franklin never has been one to let artificial or perceived physical ones stand in her way. That’s what makes it so easy for Mississippi State University women’s basketball coach Vic Schaefer to reminisce about someone he came to know by accident.

Columbus United’s Velek gets MSU coaching honor

Dr. Tom Velek never has looked at soccer as a sport for only his children.

That attitude explains why Velek has worked in so many capacities — coach, administrator, organizer, evaluator, teacher, manager — to help grow the sport he loves in the city of Columbus.

This week, Velek was recognized for his work as he was named Mississippi Soccer Association Coach of the Year.

Heritage Academy falls short on conversion against Magnolia Heights

SENATOBIA — Close.

Barrett Donahoe has used that word several times this season to highlight how far he feels the Heritage Academy football program is from competing for championships.